<1mw laser in eye

This section of Sam's Laser FAQ is particularly relevant:

Sam's Laser FAQ - Laser Safety

Trevor

Things said:

A true 1mW laser will not damage your eye, at all, even if you stare into it for a week, or through glasses, contacts etc, there is simply not enough power to cause any harm. Looking at a regular lightbulb is more dangerous.

I'm not saying go shine 1mW lasers in your eye, but you have no chance of damage if for some reason you do.

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Exact quote from Sam's Laser FAQ - Laser Safety ---

" A cheap laser pointer also produces a highly collimated beam.

Even at power levels considered relatively safe, one shouldn't deliberately stare into the beam for any reason. For these relatively low power lasers, permanent eye damage is not that likely but why take chances? For these lasers, viewing the spot projected on a white surface is perfectly safe."

He must be referring to the chances of stabbing yourself in the eye with a laser. For actual damage to occur, the laser needs to cause localized heating in the eye, which a true 1mW laser won't do, especially red.

Note that a fair few "1mW" lasers aren't actually 1mW

Things said:

He must be referring to the chances of stabbing yourself in the eye with a laser. For actual damage to occur, the laser needs to cause localized heating in the eye, which a true 1mW laser won't do, especially red.

Note that a fair few "1mW" lasers aren't actually 1mW

Click to expand...

I was referring to "Pointer" lasers in general, which are considered 5mW and under, due to the fact that his may very well be more than 1mW, but unlikely more than 5mW.

Edit: But yeah, basically no matter how you look at it, your eye is fine, we're just stressing the importance of laser safety, as this is a forum for those more extreme laser-owners.