Laser Lens Problem

My laser is currently going through some problems. There is a splash around the outside of the central dot. This splash is rather annoying and decreases the flow and viewing of the laser. I do not know the exact brand but included pictures of the actual laser and pictures of the splash. Moreover, there are two pictures of the lens, one without flash on and the other with flash on, so you can see what it looks like more clearly. I never took it apart before this problem occurred, and I have tried various methods of cleaning it, such as isopropyl alcohol.

This is what the laser looks like.


Here is a picture of the lens.


This is a zoomed in picture of the lens. It looks rather bumpy here.
http://fun4u2.wikispaces.com/file/view/laser_lens_zoomed.jpg/261551816/laser_lens_zoomed.jpg

Shown below is the laser when it is turned on.


Below is just another, closer image of the splash.


If anyone could tell me how to fix this problem it would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Don't view this one, use the newer one with smaller pictures.

You should have a mod close this one !

It looks to be dirt/dust

You can try alcohol but it has to be 90%+ pure and sometimes leaves residue. pure acetone works too! Just don't get any on the rubber or it will melt. Lastly lens cleaner works along with Windex. You have. to be very careful as to not scratch the lens...

Do the artifacts move when you clean it? If so then its dirt/dust. If not then you may have moisture inside the lasers optics. If it is moisture then it is not fixable.

Hopefully you can get your laser lens clean!

Sometimes the particles move, but there seems to be that line that goes through the middle. When I look at the lens, however, I don't see any scratches in a line form. And as for the alcohol, I was using 70% isopropyl, and I don't have one that is stronger so I will try the acetone.

That line looks to be a scratch...sorry. However you may be lucky and it may be a hair or some other dirt in the beam path. Be careful with that acetone. "Good" glass cleaner with anti-streek works well too.

I usually never use the same q-tip, I only use one side damp with chemicals to gently clean the lens. When removing the wet swab side I twist and pull. Then I quickly switch to the dry side and repeat if needed.

I did not have have any acetone, so I tried ethyl acetate. I do not know if that is supposed to work the same, but it is still has a splash around the outside of the beam.