Flashblindness: the effects of preflash adaptation and pupil size. NADC-ML-6508.

Abstract

Abstract : A question of considerable operational importance is the extent to which the blinding effect of a flash from a nuclear weapon will vary with the ambient light level. Under conditions of darkness, the size of the pupil and the sensitivity of the eye are maximized. With an increase in the ambient light level both the sensitivity of the eye and the pupil size decrease. Data are presented on the independent effects of pupil size and receptor adaptation level on the production of flashblindness by high intensity, short-duration flashes.