Eye protective techniques for bright light.

There are two principal methods to protect the retina from light damage: filtration, and brightness reduction. Since short-wavelength light and ultraviolet radiation are the most hazardous, filters that strongly attenuate wavelengths less than 500 nm can be quite effective. As infrared radiation may enhance photochemical light damage of the retina, filtration of infrared radiation is also desirable. Finally, since the eye must focus incident light on the retina, the brightness (radiance) of a source plays an important role in determining the degree of hazard of a light source. Diffusing the light source can greatly reduce the risk of injury.