In January 1963, Bartlett and his graduate student, P. R. Rao, were hospitalized after an explosion in the laboratory.  As they looked at what they thought might be the first crystals of XeF, the compound exploded, getting shards of glass in the eyes of both men. According to Bartlett, he thought that the compound may have contained water molecules, and he and Rao took off their glasses to get a better look. They were both taken to the hospital for four weeks, and Bartlett was left with damaged vision in one eye. The last piece of glass from this accident was removed 27 years later.