Air carrier first officer reported being stuck in the eye by a laser while on a night visual approac...

Attributes
ACN	1449675
Time
Date	201705
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	MDW.Airport
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Security Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

Narrative:

We were shined by a green ground based laser multiple times while on visual approach at mdw. The laser went into my left eye causing my eye to water and to see a green spot when I closed my eye. I went to the hospital and was released without any permanent damage.this is the third time I have encountered a laser in flight in the last three months! We need to think asymmetrical to defeat this threat. As a past air defense officer in the army; I know an aircraft without lights is harder if not impossible to target. Therefore; I make the sincere suggestion that when any aircraft reports a laser in the area; all the other aircraft should be allowed to turn off all of their lights including their beacon and navigation lights until clear of the threat. Also; when an arrest is made; I would suggest it be publicized so these brazen people that shine lasers at aircraft will be scared of being caught.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier First Officer reported being stuck in the eye by a laser while on a night visual approach to MDW. He suggested aircraft should turn off their lights in the vicinity of a reported laser event.

Narrative: We were shined by a green ground based laser multiple times while on visual approach at MDW. The laser went into my left eye causing my eye to water and to see a green spot when I closed my eye. I went to the hospital and was released without any permanent damage.This is the third time I have encountered a laser in flight in the last three months! We need to think asymmetrical to defeat this threat. As a past Air Defense Officer in the Army; I know an aircraft without lights is harder if not impossible to target. Therefore; I make the sincere suggestion that when any aircraft reports a laser in the area; all the other aircraft should be allowed to turn off all of their lights including their beacon and navigation lights until clear of the threat. Also; when an arrest is made; I would suggest it be publicized so these brazen people that shine lasers at aircraft will be scared of being caught.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Air carrier first officer reported being stuck in the eye by a laser while on a night visual approach to mdw. He suggested aircraft should turn off their lights in the vicinity of a reported laser event.