How is flash blindness best defined?

Flash blindness is specifically characterized as a temporary loss of vision resulting from exposure to a very bright light source, such as a nuclear explosion or a similar intense event. The duration of this visual impairment is typically brief, lasting from a few seconds to several minutes, with the answer indicating a period of about 20-30 minutes after such an exposure.

This phenomenon occurs due to the overstimulation of the retina by the intense light, which can disrupt the normal visual process. The temporary nature of flash blindness contrasts with permanent blindness, which would imply irreversible damage to the eyes, making the definition provided in the correct answer the clearest and most accurate for this context.

Additionally, while lasers can also cause temporary blindness, they are not the defining cause of flash blindness as outlined in the context of this question, which focuses specifically on the effects of a nuclear blast. The mention of bright sunlight also indicates different conditions that do not match the severity and characteristics associated with flash blindness resulting from explosive light.