Laser-Induced Afterimages in Humans

Abstract

Afterimages induced by incoherent light sources have been studied as complex visual perceptions for over 200 years; however, individuals who have viewed a coherent source (a laser) on-axis have reported visual experiences unlike those observed for full-field flashes from incoherent sources. In the present study, 10 volunteers viewed all combinations of blue, green, and red laser light and background colors that matched the wavelengths of the laser sources (a total of 9 conditions). The bright focal (50 μm retinal irradiance diameter) 3-sec. exposures (approximately 9 log trolands-40% of the maximum permissible exposure level) given to the volunteers were administered as they performed a simulator tracking task. A 50/50 mirror (a mirror which reflected 50% of the laser beam into the optical pathway while allowing the 50% of the light from the visual scene to pass through the mirror) permitted simultaneous intrabeam viewing of the laser source and the scene. The volunteers were asked to report what they saw immediately after the laser was turned off and 1-min. postexposure. The immediate reports indicated that the image they observed was the same color as the laser source and not the complementary color. Also, the images were often surrounded by well-defined borders and, regardless of laser's or background's color, were generally red. One minute following presentation of the laser light the images seen were predominantly purple, dark or no longer present; however, the edge color when present generally appeared red. The immediate appearance of the images was inferred to be neural in nature and not photochemical. These results suggest the properties of the laser source, i.e., coherency, monochromaticity, and the laser's capacity to place an intense beam of light in a small retinal area, all contributed to the unique appearance of the postflash images.