Exposure-Limit Distance as a Safety-Indicating Parameter of a High-Intensity Flash Source

A systematic understanding of the effects of high-intensity flash sources on the human eye is strongly needed, not only for proper use of the sources, but for human eye health. In this study, the exposure-limit distance (ELD), indicating the minimal safe distance in case of seeing by chance a high-intensity flash, is proposed. The optical procedures to determine the ELD of a high-intensity flash are clarified, and the dependence of ELD on its parameters such as luminous intensity, duration, and radius of a flash are thoroughly investigated. From this investigation it is obvious that, while being weakly dependent on duration, the ELD is nearly proportional to the luminous intensity and the radius of a flash. The proposed ELD as an intuitive safety-indicating parameter is more useful and intuitive than the other characteristic parameters of a high-intensity flash. The ELD is expected to be an essential parameter as a safety indicator, to characterize the performance of a high-intensity flash and to promote the safety of the human eye.