Depending on the source consulted, the term "flash blindness" may exclusively refer to a temporary condition, or may describe a potentially permanent one.
[3] Other sources restrict the use of the word to temporary, reversible vision loss, distinguishing it from permanent blindness in a hierarchy of effects: "when the eye perceives bright light one of four reactions may take place.
"[4] The United States Federal Aviation Administration defines flash blindness in Order JO 7400.2 as "generally, a temporary visual interference effect that persists after the source of the illumination has ceased.
Also in aviation, there is concern about laser pointers and bright searchlights causing temporary flash blindness and other vision-distracting effects to pilots who are in critical phases of flight such as approach and landing.
[citation needed] Reaction to flash blindness can be discomforting and disorienting, but the retina itself has no pain receptors,[8] unlike the cornea.