Optical radiation exposure primarily causes which injury?

Optical radiation exposure primarily causes which injury?

• A. RF burns
• B. Electrical shock
• C. Skin burn
• D. Corneal burn

Answer: (D)

Optical radiation exposure—covering ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light—primarily affects the eyes. The cornea absorbs a lot of this light, so intense exposure often injures the eye’s surface first, leading to a corneal burn (photokeratitis). This is a well-known hazard from bright light sources like welding arcs or intense outdoor sun exposure. The other options describe injuries from different hazards—RF burns come from radiofrequency, electrical shock from electricity, and skin burns from thermal exposure—so the corneal burn is the best answer because it reflects the most common and direct effect of optical radiation.

Optical radiation exposure—covering ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light—primarily affects the eyes. The cornea absorbs a lot of this light, so intense exposure often injures the eye’s surface first, leading to a corneal burn (photokeratitis). This is a well-known hazard from bright light sources like welding arcs or intense outdoor sun exposure. The other options describe injuries from different hazards—RF burns come from radiofrequency, electrical shock from electricity, and skin burns from thermal exposure—so the corneal burn is the best answer because it reflects the most common and direct effect of optical radiation.