j=
Legg oss)
Project 4.1 -— Flash Blindness - Chorioretinal Burns - Col. R.S. Fixott
OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of this project is to obtain information on
the requirements for protection of the eyes egainst chorioretinal burns
from atomic detonations of various yields; enliig
meee
Corollary technical objectives at the same yield are to:
Determine whether blink reflexes will prevent chorioretinal burns.
Ascertain which portions of the time-intensity pulse can produce
thermal injury to the retina and choroid of the eye.
Determine the time required for blink reflex (BRT) in rabbits and
monkeys exposed to the extreme light intensity of the atomic detonation.
Explore the feasibility of ocular protection by means of fixed
density optical filters and/or corbinations of filters.
Test, under field conditions, protective shutter devices which are
in the developmental stege and which are designed to close much more rapidly
than the BRT,
INSTRUMENTATION
The basic instrumentation for this shot was identical to that used for
previous shots.
In addition instrumentation on loan from Project 2.65 (Army
Chemical Center) was employed for measuring the thermal radiation dosage
received at exposure sites on Jeptan (David) and Runit (Yvonne).
This
instrument gives no informetion on pulse shape.
General Cbhservations
Chorioretinel burns were produced in 19 of 92 rabbits end 8 of 8 monkeys
participating in this shot,
e
~entbe
All cf the burns were produced at the Runit site.
- 27
-
—_