Eye damage?

[amv]

While playing with my new e1e I looked directly into the light for about a second or so. My eyes have been feeling strange since this happened 2 days ago. I was under the impression that the e1e was low power enough so that damage to eyesight could not occur. Is this the case?

 

[cheesehead]

Er, I don't think you could get permanent damage with a small incandescent, even if it is as bright as an E1E. Maybe I'll try it and see what happens. I've done it with a G2, and felt goofy, but ok after a few seconds.

 

[woodsman]

I don't think you could do any eye damage from looking into an e1e. You might have another problem with your eyes though. I look into my M6 all the time. With no I'll effects. Don't take my advice though I'm already half blind. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Cyclops942]

Go not to the flashaholics for medical advice; for they will say, "Do it again and see if it repeats!"

Seriously, if your eyes have felt strange for two days, go see an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Don't spend any more time staring at your computer screen reading messages from fellow flashaholics until you've made that appointment. I doubt your E1e could cause any damage, but SOMETHING is bothering your eyes-- go get them checked.

 

[Dukester]

I agree with Cyclops942, I don't think the e1e would be bright enough to do any damage, but something else must be bothering your eyes?

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Get thee to an optometrist or opthamologist. You only get one set of eyes.

 

[terrybright]

I agree that you should seek expert advice (i.e., an opthalmologist)rather than rely on this forum. I will mention that I was accidentally exposed to the unshielded flash tubes of a copier some years ago. An afterimage persisted for several days but eventually disappeared. This was certainly a more intense light than the one you looked at but the duration was a fraction of a second. The total amount of energy delivered to the retinal and the rate at which it is delivered both matter.

 

[paulr]

Yes, see a Dr. Also, shining lights in your eyes is not a bright (um) idea. If doing something makes your eyes hurt, that's your eyes' way of telling you to stop doing it. Listen to them.

 

[BlindedByTheLite]

i doubt the light is to blame..
i look in every flashlight i buy for a few seconds..
and i have 20/10 vision.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif

definitely get checked!

 

[mrme]

A second or so of looking at a welding arc shouldn't be bothering you 2 days later. There is no way a flashlight is going to cause permanent eye damzage with such short exposure. It is likely something else.

You might check for sinus pressure or other alergy symptoms.
If it is really bothering you or have any reason to suspect it is serious, go see a physician.

Or, just get some placebos, uh, I mean herbal remediers, and concince yourself they will make everything better. Odds are, they will!

 

[gwbaltzell]

Some good advice above. See an opthamologist (not an optometrist). These are M.D.s that specialize in the eye and can due a battery of test. An optometrist main job basically is to help correct common vision problems with glasses or contacts though many also do some testing for common diseases.

 

[Cyclops942]

Yeah, what gwbaltzell said. Ophthalmologists are actually eye surgeons, and although a good optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist if needed, you can save yourself a step by going straight to the professional with the best likelihood of helping you.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

My optometrist has several new whizbang machines that can detect all sorts of pathology, but he's an optometrist.

My opthamalogist is an MD, but he has a more modest collection of old, traditional optical devices that can still detect pathology using his expert interpretation, but I'm beginning to wonder whether some of the newer laser-based scanning gizmos is providing the optometrist with a significant advantage, especially over those optometrists who rely only on their legacy, manual hardware.

 

[gwbaltzell]

[ QUOTE ]
PhotonWrangler said:
...
My opthamalogist is an MD, but he has a more modest collection of old, traditional optical devices that can still detect pathology using his expert interpretation, but I'm beginning to wonder whether some of the newer laser-based scanning gizmos is providing the optometrist with a significant advantage, especially over those optometrists who rely only on their legacy, manual hardware.

[/ QUOTE ]

Funny, my opthamalogist has lots of whiz bang equipment in her office including an automated visual field machine, which would be a major test if you have retina damage.

George

 

[cheesehead]

Either one hopefully will have enough experience looking at eyes to figure out what's going on. It's unlikely related to the flashlight (well, you can feel funny after you realize how much money you spent on the light). I too, have to check all my new lights by looking directly into the beam (then if the afterimage lasts a while I know it's a good light).