Biological Research in Support of Project MILES.

Abstract : The MILES system incorporates the first military laser device designed with the intention of subjecting friendly personnel to laser irradiation. The use of this device in a training scenario will necessitate a high probability of intrabeam ocular exposure for a large number of trainees. Thus, the stringent requirement exists for a complete understanding of the ocular effects of the MILES laser transmitter so that its safe use can be assured. The MILES laser transmitter is a gallium arsenide (GaAs) laser system with an emission wavelength of 900 nm. The output consists of a pulse amplitude and pulse interval modulated train of pulses at an average pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 1632 Hz. The pulse duration is 60 ns. The effort to delineate the ocular hazard of this device has involved the study of several parameters affecting the interaction of laser radiation with ocular tissue. These parameters included wavelength, retinal image diameter, and exposure to repetitive pulses. The studies also included exposure of ocular tissue to prototype and engineering development versions of the MILES M-16 transmitter.