Study of the Effects of Light Flashes on the Visual System

Background The goal of this study is to examine the human visual and cognitive performance under the effect of bright light pulses. Exposure to visual stimulation of such pulsation may interfere with cognitive function and at certain situations this may be noticeable and may interfere with our judgment and abilities. In some of them visual or cognitive impairment from exposure to bright light flashes may result in catastrophic outcome due to the high-risk situation e.g. road accidents. Ocular exposure to a bright light can result in profound momentary transitional loss of vision. The light sources employed for visual stimulation in this study will be restricted to the range consistent with "reversible effects" (e.g. glare and flash insensitivity or "flash blindness").

The impact of an exposure to bright light depends not only on the exposure level and frequency, but also on the exposed individual's activity, psychological state, adaptation level and visual task. Glare is primarily caused by the scattering of light within the eye due to the imperfect transparency of the optical components of the eye and to a lesser extent by diffuse light passing through the scleral wall or the iris. The scattered light overlays the retinal image, thus reducing visual contrast. Excessive glare may impair visual function and lead to temporary disability.

The above mentioned effects of exposure to light and pulsating light stimulus on the visual system and cognition were studied in detail by a number of groups. These studies indicate that the visual and cognition effects of pulsating light are a function of the following parameters: pulse duration, light intensity and pulse frequency.