Power level for safety glasses?

So, I remember seeing a post somewhere on the site a few months, almost a year back about what power level you'll need glasses at.

I thought it was after 25mW with a green laser, you'll need glasses or else the reflection from the dot can cause eye damage?

Is this true or am I just missing something?

I'm trying to figure out the max output I can get before I actually need glasses.
I want to get my friend a nice green laser, but I don't want ot burden him with glasses.

** I couldn't find the post or anything about it on the forums when I tried searching **

Thank you!

You can get blind spots from a 25mw easily. one of our more reputable members did it with a 20mw green laser. You really wouldn't need that high of an OD level for a 25mw laser. 5mw of green isn't necessarily "safe" it can still cause damage.
You really only HAVE to wear glasses when burning stuff, thought its recommended to wear them when ever you use it, excluding shining it in the sky or something.

Well, I was thinking of getting him this-- 30mW tiny laser Because it's small, and pretty low powered. I had a 20mW module I purchased off some site a while back, and he LOVED it. So the price seems pretty good for the pointer, but I'm not sure if he'd want glasses.

All he would do is shine it on the wall for a bit, maybe MAX.. 1 minute if he's BORED. Then into he sky and stuff.

beware that its going to be around ~50 from lazerer
as long as he has common since, there shouldn't be a problem. One of my friend has permanent blind spots and insensitivity to green because of a 50mw laser going past his vision for 3 seconds. so make sure hes careful

Oh I thought that by 30mW it wouldn't be any higher. I didn't know that would be upwards of 50.

But so looking at the reflection for a second or two shouldn't hurt him too bad?

try other chinese sites if you want an under spec one
damage is cumulative, so i would always suggest glasses if it happens once it should be okay, i suppose.

xxmatt72094xx said:

Well, I was thinking of getting him this-- 30mW tiny laser Because it's small, and pretty low powered. I had a 20mW module I purchased off some site a while back, and he LOVED it. So the price seems pretty good for the pointer, but I'm not sure if he'd want glasses.

All he would do is shine it on the wall for a bit, maybe MAX.. 1 minute if he's BORED. Then into he sky and stuff.

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I have that laser, and it's pretty bright. Right from the specs:

Minimum Power Guarantee: Overspec Guaranteed

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You aren't going to be lighting stuff on fire with it, but you will definitely hurt yourself (or others) if you're not responsible with it.

Thanks guys, I'll get him this but tell him if he looks into the dot too long, he'll go blind. lol
And tell him if he shines it at someone, it'll instantly blind them. He'll be scared shitless.

xxmatt72094xx said:

Thanks guys, I'll get him this but tell him if he looks into the dot too long, he'll go blind. lol
And tell him if he shines it at someone, it'll instantly blind them. He'll be scared shitless.

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Having your friend scared is good... he'll hopefully be more paranoid... but the reality is not nearly as scary as it seems.

Lasers over 5mW are only an issue if there is a direct hit, or a reflection off a surface where most of the power would still be there.

For example your average mirror will reflect over 90% of the light back... so waving a laser around in from of a mirror... BAAAD idea.

Specular reflection from matte surfaces (such as a typical painted wall) is another story altogether... It's perfectly safe to look at the dot of say a 100mW laser on a white wall five feet away.

Wouldn't be comfortable... but it would be safe. Kind of the same thing as staring at a light bulb.

Basic rule of thumb is, don't look at the dot on anything but a matte surface, and never closer than 5 feet. Beyond that it's more a question of comfort than safety... I find the dot of laser over ~100mW to be unpleasant to look at indoors even from ~10 feet away on the ceiling, but that's me

Btw... I have my eyes checked once a year, and do have a retinal picture taken... no changes since 2007

That helps me out A LOT actually, thanks for that little tid bit man!