History Main / BlindedByTheLight

Depending on the work, the light source could be any number of things. For example, in {{Fantasy}} works it's likely [[FantasticLightSource some sort of magic had a hand in it]], while in ScienceFiction it is more likely to find flashbang grenades or devices specifically designed for this sort of thing. The sun and its reflections are also widely used. A popular sword-fighting variant involves tilting a blade so it reflects the sun's light into your opponent's eyes. Demonstrating a light is blindingly bright might involve the use of BrightnessShadows.

* UsefulNotes/WorldWarI / UsefulNotes/WorldWarII: Attacking out of the sun was a popular tactic for both fighters and dive-bombers.

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', the Dom mobile suit has a small beam cannon on its chest. It's not really powerful enough to do any real harm to enemy mobile suits, so it mainly gets used as a flash-bang.

* In ''Manga/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'', attacking from above and using the Sun's glare to hide his position from aircraft turrets is Prince Asbel's favored strafing tactic.

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS1E2TheDaleks "The Daleks"]], the Thals baffle the Daleks' cameras with handheld mirrors.
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS21E1WarriorsoftheDeep Warriors of the Deep]]", the Myrka is killed by an intense ray of ultraviolet light aimed at its eyes.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Webcomic/UnOrdinary'': Evie's "illumination" ability is low tier, so she makes the most of it by activating it with her hands over a bullies eyes forcing them to stumble and blink their way back to being able to see while Evie flees with her friends.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Literature/{{Domina}}'':
** The vampires in this web-novel have eyes that can [[InnateNightVision see perfectly in the dark]], but are blinded by light. Vampires can operate during the day even without the big bulky goggles they normally wear, but they get headaches and they can't really see. Sudden flashes of bright light (such as an angel's [[LightEmUp daybreak]]) can actually knock them unconscious.
** Inverted, actually, with the angels. They can see perfectly in bright light, to the point that they tend to stare directly at the sun when bored. However, they have basically zero ability to see in the dark, so they have to carry around nightvision goggles to even see in the shadows on a sunny day. Of course, they have the ability to emit bright light, so it's not really a big deal as long as they don't have to worry about blinding anyone.
%%(ZCE)* ''WebAnimation/{{Dreamscape}}'': Eleenin can create a very bright ball of light.
* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': Amber can blind her opponents by summoning a Quasar.
%%(ZCE and improper indentation)** One of Kayla's traps emits a bright ray of golden light.
* In ''[[WebAnimation/MadnessCombat Madness Combat 7.5]]'', Deimos takes a flashbang to the face and stumbles blindly for a few seconds. Thankfully, Sanford covers his eyes in time and takes out the mooks who threw it before they have the time to shot them.
[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'': In "Blood Moon", Cricket discovers the farm animals-turned-zombies from the [[BadMoonRising blood moon]] don't like the light, and manages to hold them off by shining a flashlight in their faces. It doesn't last long, as the flashlight's battery soon burns out.
* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': In "Wag the Song", Jimmy Pesto installs a new metal awning for his restaurant, but it reflects the sun's light into Bob's Burgers. Out of desperation, Bob tries to reflect it back to Jimmy with the bathroom mirror, but he only manages to blind Jimmy's lackey Trevor.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheDeep'': In "Colossal Squid", the Rover is attacked by a colossal squid: a creature that lives in the darkest depths of the ocean and has the largest eyes in nature. The Nektons are able to drive it off by turning the ''Aronnax'''s searclights on full power.
* On ''WesternAnimation/TheDragonPrince'', this is the most useful power of the glow toad Bait. On command, he can emit a powerful light that blinds opponents for several seconds, usually trigged by the phrase "Say hello to my little friend."
* On on episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', Timmy wishes for [[TwinkleSmile shiny teeth]] that cause this, which includes blinding Veronica. A few seasons later, a LowerDeckEpisode showed she was still blinded hours later.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' short "Mabel's Guide to Color", Mabel tries to show Grunkle Stan a rainbow by reflecting one from the waterfall into the window of his office with a mirror. The results...were a bit more than what she was expecting.
-->"Nothing brightens a dark room like light from a window! Time to open the wind- '''OH NO!!! WHY?!? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!?!'''"

** In "It's About Time", Twilight Sparkle is scanning the skies with a telescope. She accidentally looks directly into the sun and is blinded in one eye. She has to wear an eye-patch for the rest of the episode so her eye can heal.
** In "Inspiration Manifestation", Rarity turns the streets of Ponyville to gold. The sun reflects off it and blinds several citizens.

* On ''WesternAnimation/PeterRabbit'', in "Flooded Burrow", Peter Rabbit's mother uses this to get rid of the owl Old Brown.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'' episode "Now You Smurf 'Em, Now You Don't", Papa Smurf used light shone through a magnifying lens into a magic crystal ball to blind the trolls digging tunnels underneath the Smurf Village to capture the Smurfs.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E10LairOfGrievous "Lair of Grievous"]] Kit Fisto's plan for ambushing Grievous included shining the bright lights from the clone troopers helmets into his eyes in the dark lair. While Grievous does squint and raise an arm to protect himself from the light it does not give them the advantage they were hoping for.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS3E01TheHolocronsOfFate "The Holocrons of Fate"]], the holocron fusion unleashes a brilliant white light that blinds everyone [[spoiler:except Kanan, who, ironically enough, [[ByTheEyesOfTheBlind has his vision temporarily restored]] (albeit crudely) by the same light.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003''. As part of a test, Michelangelo has to steal an object from the test area without getting caught by Leonardo. Leo set up a bunch of moving spotlights in the darkened room so that it's almost impossible to stay in the shadows. Mikey circumvents this by blinding Leo with a metal plate and stealing the object while he's blinded.

* ''WesternAnimation/WorkItOutWombats'': In "Sparklepants," when Zadie shines her flashlight on the Sparklepants, Mr. E shouts that "Those infernal sparkling pants are blinding me!" This inspires Zadie to use the Sparklepants and flashlights to make a landing pad for Ellie.
* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010''. The mooks of Black Mantis are wearing image-intensifying helmets to enable them to see better underwater, so while fighting them on land Artemis fires a TrickArrow that sets off a flare.

-->-- '''Freakazoid''', ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'', "[[Recap/FreakazoidSeason2Episode8 The Island of Dr. Mystico]]"

* Flashbangs have been a feature in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' since [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil the fourth main title]] in the series. Whatever isn't [[WeakenedByTheLight destroyed outright by the blast]] tends to be stunned still for a long time, and in ''4'', ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil5 5]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil6 6]]'', ripe for a devastating melee attack or grab. In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake'', they're a defensive item used to get out of grabs as well, and even the blind Licker[[note]]the "bang" part [[SensoryOverload wreaks havoc]] with their [[SuperSenses super hearing]][[/note]] and the unflappable [[ImplacableMan Mr. X]] aren't immune.

* Flashbangs have been a feature in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' since [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil the fourth main title]] in the series. Whatever isn't [[WeakenedByTheLight destroyed outright by the blast]] tends to be stunned still for a long time, and in ''4'', ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil5 5]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil6 6]]'', ripe for a devastating melee attack or grab. In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake'', they're a defensive item used to get out of grabs as well, and even the blind Licker[[note]]the "bang" part wreaks havoc with their [[SuperSenses super hearing]][[/note]] and the unflappable [[ImplacableMan Mr. X]] aren't immune.

** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'': The first boss fight uses this against ''you''. The arena has a spotlight that she'll shoot to shine in your face, which completely blinds First Person View mode, making her almost impossible to hit until you shoot the light out.

* Flashbangs are the grenades available to SWAT perk players in ''{{VideoGame/Killing Floor 2}}'', which every one of them easily and quickly stuns zeds hit by it (while conveniently [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality doing absolutely nothing to the thrower]] [[FriendlyFireproof and his team]])...unless they're a Scrake or Fleshpound [[TurnsRed that is enraged]]. You're probably going to need a few more of those then.

Depending on the work, the light source could be any number of things. For example, in {{Fantasy}} works it's likely [[FantasticLightSource some sort of magic had a hand in it]], while in ScienceFiction it is more likely to find flashbang grenades or devices specifically designed for this sort of thing. The sun and its reflections are also widely used. A popular sword-fighting variant involves tilting a blade so it reflects the sun's light into your opponent's eyes.

* In Creator/DevonMonk's ''Literature/MagicToTheBone'', Allie uses this on a would-be kidnapper: a two-second flash, too simple and childish to be expected.

* In Creator/RobertEHoward's ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' story "Literature/AWitchShallBeBorn", Salome uses light to blind Tamaris's rescuers.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': In ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'', Vimes' coach is accosted in a mountain pass where the sun has already gone down. Vimes gets out to talk to the robbers and takes the time to light his cigar. When "dark clerk" Inigo Skimmer chides him later for the grandstanding, Vimes' reply is "you mean when I closed my eyes and they had to look at a bright flame in the darkness?" In other words he destroyed their night vision, making them unable to see the crossbow-spring he used to kill the leader.

* Creator/TomClancy uses this in a number of his Literature/JackRyan books. In addition to the standard flashbangs, ''Debt of Honor'' features a high-intensity blinding light weapon, stated to be a nonlethal weapon. It is indeed nonlethal, if horribly effective, when used on a mook. Then it's used on the pilots of enemy aircraft as they're attempting to land their planes.

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!

-->-- '''Freakazoid''', ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'', "The Island of Dr. Mystico"

* In ''Film/{{Jumanji}}'', Judy blinds Van Pelt with a price scanner.

** In order to increase visibility of motorcycles, their headlights are turned on permenanently. Some riders however, take this a step further and turn on the high beams as well (at least during daytime riding). Though there's some debate on how effective this really is and if this could potentially be a safety hazard for other drivers.

** In order to increase visibility of motorcycles, their headlights are turned on permnanently. Some riders however, take this a step further and turn on the high beams as well (at least during daytime riding). Though there's some debate on how effective this really is and if this could potentially be a safety hazard for other drivers.

*** Several people have gotten arrested for shining their bright green laser pointers into the nighttime sky and dazzling or temporarily blinding pilots overhead. Particularly if the plane is taking off or landing. There was serious talk of outright banning the sale of laser pointers in Britain after someone used the same trick to make an oncoming car swerve off the road and hit a tree, and in Spain using them against pilots or drivers supposes a fine of up to €600,000. It has been seriously alleged that this trick has been used by Russian assassins to deniably kill targets who have been driving their cars by night and more excitable conspiracy theorists have alleged this was the ''real'' cause of Diana Spencer's death. [[note]]People who think this way have confidently stated the laser that distracted her driver and blinded him would have been lost among the background diversion of all those papparazzi camera flashes going off at the same time.[[/note]]. It is known, however, that a prototype laser defence system was used on the British aircraft carrier ''HMS Ark Royal'' and saw active use in the Falklands War in 1982, used to disorientate and blind Argentian pilots.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Defence_Light One of the armored vehicles]] used in the Normandy landings in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII was essentially an outdated tank with the gun replaced with a very high intensity lamp, entirely encased in the turret save for a narrow vertical slit. The turret would pan back and forth, perodically painting the German defenses with blinding light to make it impossible for them to see the troops on the beaches. They also had various filters they could put onto the light while in action, so as to make it harder to determine how far away the vehicle was if you wanted to [[{{Pun}} put its lights out]]. Unfortunately the weapon was so secret its use was minimal, as few officers were aware of its capabilities.

* The third mission in ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'' where Joanna has to escape [=dataDyne=] headquarters via rooftop allows an opportunity to Invoke this. At the rooftop access Joanna is ambushed by Cassandra de Vries' shotgun-armed bodyguards, who will kill the lights to make it pitch-black and use night-vision goggles to shoot at Joanna. Given the close quarters and ShortRangeShotgun being in play this is obviously a dangerous situation, but if the player locates the light switch and hits it the lights come back and will cause all of the bodyguards to flinch in pain for several seconds, giving Joanna an opportunity to kill them first.

* The third mission in ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'' where Joanna has to escape [=dataDyne=] headquarters via rooftop allows an opportunity to Exploit this. At the rooftop access Joanna is ambushed by Cassandra de Vries' shotgun-armed bodyguards, who will kill the lights to make it pitch-black and use night-vision goggles to shoot at Joanna. Given the close quarters and ShortRangeShotgun being in play this is obviously a dangerous situation, but if the player locates the light switch and hits it the lights come back and will cause all of the bodyguards to flinch in pain for several seconds, giving Joanna an opportunity to kill them first.

* The third mission in ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'' where Joanna has to escape [=dataDyne=] headquarters via rooftop allows an opportunity to Exploit this. At the rooftop access Joanna is ambushed by Cassandra de Vries' shotgun-armed bodyguards, who will kill the lights and use night-vision goggles to shoot at Joanna. Given the close quarters and ShortRangeShotgun being in play this is obviously a dangerous situation, but if the player locates the light switch and hits it the lights come back and will cause all of the bodyguards to flinch in pain for several seconds, giving Joanna an opportunity to kill them first.

*** Several people have gotten arrested for shining their bright green laser pointers into the nighttime sky and dazzling or temporarily blinding pilots overhead. Particularly if the plane is taking off or landing. There was serious talk of outright banning the sale of laser pointers in Britain after someone used the same trick to make an oncoming car swerve off the road and hit a tree, and in Spain using them against pilots or drivers supposes a fine of up to €600,000.