In this concept art: https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MZpSIvZFx0oZGh9y1sdafVcigPU=/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3791408/Fallout4_Concept_Blast_1434323459.0.jpg

People seem to be relatively close to the blast and are staring at it, I'm just wondering if in Fallout and real-life if that would/could render you blind? I remember reading the book Alas Babylon and a child is temporarily blinded from witnessing a nuke go off.

Depending on distance the initial flash of detonation can cause blindness if looking directly at it. The subsequent mushroom cloud itself won't cause blindness.

In the Fallout world, I'm not sure whether it's the same. After all, the player character looks at various nukes going off at any time. Even a mini nuke would generate enough flash to blind, especially at close range.

You can look at it afterwards, just the initial seconds of the blast will damage your eyes.

Thanks for the response I think it'd be cool if someone entering vault 111 during the Great War complained of their eyes hurting/went blind.

I think it was the Survivalist in Honest Hearts who mentioned an old couple that got blinded when the nukes began to fall.

Yes you will go blind if you look directly at a nuclear detonation.

Probably yes. Even Burke warns you to "mind your eyes, it'll be brighter than bright." Gameplay vs. Story Segregation demands that you not go blind even if you disregarded that warning and stared right at the blinding flash.