A question about laser safety,

I think this is a newbie question but its a serious one, Say (HYPOTHETICALLY) you have a 1w laser, and you shoot it at your wall, will it hurt your eyes if you stare where the beam is hitting.

For example: your in a room, about 5-20 yards away from you, you shoot your 1w laser at the wall and you stare at the point where your laser is hitting, does this hurt your eyes if stared at for a prolong amount of time or no?

So do you have to wear safety goggles when using a 1w laser to point at a wall if so would you need to for a 50mW laser? (asume the 1w is a blue laser 50mW is a green laser)

I know if you stare directly into a beam your eye is fried.

Thanks for your time to view this question and thanks in advance for answers.

P.S. This entire question is HYPOTHETICAL.



-Danteslayer

Okay you shouldnt even look at the dot of a 1W blue laser. I HIGHLY recommend you get an eagle pair before using a 1W blue or 50mW green laser

Danteslayer said:

I think this is a newbie question but its a serious one, Say you have a 1w laser, and you shoot it at your wall, will it hurt your eyes if you stare where the beam is hitting.

For example: your in a room, about 5-20 yards away from you, you shoot your 1w laser at the wall and you stare at the point where your laser is hitting, does this hurt your eyes if stared at for a prolong amount of time or no?

Click to expand...

I can shine my 1W 445nm laser at the wall and it is very bright, but I can look at it. I can't stare at it (and if you had one you would realized that it would be not wise to do so). It is pretty bright.

Danteslayer said:

So do you have to wear safety goggles when using a 1w laser to point at a wall if so would you need to for a 50mW laser? (asume the 1w is a blue laser 50mW is a green laser)

Click to expand...

Here is a little info on that. You can play around with it. It gives a decent idea on what it is like Dot: (532nm 50mw) vs. (445nm 1000mw)

If you are keeping the beam fixed at a wall, you don't necessarily need the glasses on. Try not to stare at the dot, focus on the pretty beam. Just make sure you have them with you. If the beam/dot is moving, I'd keep them on to be safe inside.

Danteslayer said:

I know if you stare directly into a beam your eye is fried.

Click to expand...

Yes. I would not recommend doing that.

Photonz said:

Okay you shouldnt even look at the dot of a 1W blue laser. I HIGHLY recommend you get an eagle pair before using a 1W blue or 50mW green laser

Click to expand...

Alright, is was a hypothetical question, But for a 50mW greenie I think you can look at the dot. (no rudeness intended)

Are blue lasers more for burning? also are they impressive? as in somone would be impressed if they saw it.

i said "shouldnt even look at the dot of a 1W blue laser not 50mW. read carefully and you can look at the dot of a 50mW its just not wise. The more you look at that dot the harder it is on your eyes. Ive looked at a 50mW dot and its not horrible but it will have an effect on your eyes later on in life. and its good to a get a pair of safety goggles first so you're not tempted to use higher power lasers without goggles. And, if you want to look at the lasers without goggles just point the laser into the sky at night or at a very far away uninhabited object

Photonz said:

and its good to a get a pair of safety goggles first so you're not tempted to use higher power lasers without goggles. And, if you want to look at the lasers without goggles just point the laser into the sky at night or at a very far away uninhabited object

Click to expand...

I had 3 pair of Eagle Pair safety glasses before I even bought my first high powered laser.

Safety First.

You only get one set of eyes.

I guess you guys are right, but I cant afford a 40 pair of goggles, for now for my 50mW I ordered an 8$ pair for 440nm to 532nm but I plan to get better ones, I ordered them off of amazon by the way.

Danteslayer said:

I guess you guys are right, but I cant afford a 40 pair of goggles, for now for my 50mW I ordered an 8$ pair for 440nm to 532nm but I plan to get better ones, I ordered them off of amazon by the way.

Click to expand...

These are suppose to be alright:
Uvex S0360X Ultra-spec 2000 Safety Eyewear, Orange Frame, SCT-Orange UV Extreme Anti-Fog Lens - Amazon.com

source: http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/cheap-safety-goggles-destructive-test-uvex-s0360x-ultra-spec-2000-a-73484.html

Danteslayer said:

Are blue lasers more for burning? also are they impressive? as in somone would be impressed if they saw it.

Click to expand...

Yes to both questions. I have a blue laser and its very impressive, it can burn and light stuff on fire easily, and you can easily see the beam in the daytime in a fully lit room but you don't want to look at the dot, its much brighter than the sun. I read somewhere here that a powerful blue laser will be harmful to your eyes out to something like 700 or 800 feet.

Pi R Squared said:

Yes to both questions. I have a blue laser and its very impressive, it can burn and light stuff on fire easily, and you can easily see the beam in the daytime in a fully lit room but you don't want to look at the dot, its much brighter than the sun. I read somewhere here that a powerful blue laser will be harmful to your eyes out to something like 700 or 800 feet.

Click to expand...

Thanks, very helpful information. Thank you all for responding to my noobish questions, if i could give out rep to all of you i would.