Flash blindness is visual impairment during and following exposure to a light flash of extremely high intensity. It may last for a few seconds to a few minutes.
For example, in everyday life, the subject of a flash photograph can be temporarily flash blinded. The bright light overwhelms the eye and only gradually fades. A bright spot or spots may be seen for many minutes. This phenomenon is leveraged in non-lethal weapons such as flash grenades and laser dazzlers.
Read more about Flash Blindness: Cause, Temporary Vs. Permanent, Potential Hazards, Pain, Related Conditions
Famous quotes containing the words flash and/or blindness:
“We not only grew up on Be-Bop; Be-Bop raised us. For my generation, Be-Bop came on like a light bulb going flash behind the eyes. For us, it was not only an intellectual movement, but a way of life. We walked, dressed, and rapped Be-Bop.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)
“Oh blindness to the future! kindly giv’n,
That each may fill the circle mark’d by Heav’n:”
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744)