Damage, or paranoia?

Tw15t3r · Oct 2, 2009

Btw, just for extra info, Class 4 lasers, >500mW, are lasers which are dangerous even from diffused beam viewing as stated by the IEC 60825-1 standard. Whereas Class 3B, which most of us are having, are safe for diffused reflections from matted surfaces.

So no prob there!

Benm · Oct 12, 2009

Well.. if you must put it in classes - the blurays seem to be approaching that 500 mW limit rapidly at the moment. Being both borderline invisible and dangerous i'm somehow affraid people might actually injure their eyes with those.

laze_doctor · Oct 12, 2009

From wikipedia (regarding class 3B): "A diffuse reflection is generally not hazardous but specular reflections can be just as dangerous as direct exposures"

You probably wouldn't want to shine it at a wall a meter away from your face... and you definitely don't want to stare at the dot for prolonged periods. If it actually hurts I wouldn't be doing it.

Deleted member 8382 · Oct 12, 2009

laze_doctor said:
From wikipedia (regarding class 3B): "A diffuse reflection is generally not hazardous but specular reflections can be just as dangerous as direct exposures"

You probably wouldn't want to shine it at a wall a meter away from your face... and you definitely don't want to stare at the dot for prolonged periods. If it actually hurts I wouldn't be doing it.

It hurts because of the eye muscles, not because you are being damaged!

SMIDSY · Oct 12, 2009

my mother is an assistant to an ophthalmic surgeon.

I developed floaters in my right eye shortly after starting with lasers and thought what you did. I want to be a pilot and I have 20/15 (sometimes 20/12!) vision in both eyes so I can become one. My first thought was panic when I got floaters.

Ive had countless exams and luckily its just 'one of those things'- my eyes are fine*.

Floaters however if they get worse apparently can be a sign of mackelur degeneration (hope I spelt that right) and/ or retina detachment. However this is only if you get a massive floater that stays in one spot/ obstructs vision.

Keep an eye (no pun)- but from what you are telling me it sounds normal to me!

hope that helps!

Also be careful with reflections- I know the guy is an eye doctor and is therefore paranoid but after showing him a 100mW BR he said even reflections especially off white surfaces woudl be very hazardous- he recommended eye goggles at all times indoors and only viewing the diffuse reflections at considerable distance.

*It does turn out from one of the photos of my retina that I have a 'blind spot' however this they think may not be due to lasers and looks like its been there since I was a kid- I dotn notice anything and its very small and therefore does not affect my vision at all.

mfo · Oct 12, 2009

Well there is a decent sized one in my left eye, then a small cloud of others around it. I guess they have been there all my life just never noticed them. The problem doesn't seem to be worsening so I guess I'm good. I really should go to the optometrist but bleh...squirmy. They tested my eyes for Glaucoma (I think) a long time ago when I was like 11 or 12. They made me look into this thing with a dim yellowish/orange light which blew these hard puffs of air into my eyes that made them tear.

SMIDSY · Oct 13, 2009

mfo said:
Well there is a decent sized one in my left eye, then a small cloud of others around it. I guess they have been there all my life just never noticed them. The problem doesn't seem to be worsening so I guess I'm good. I really should go to the optometrist but bleh...squirmy. They tested my eyes for Glaucoma (I think) a long time ago when I was like 11 or 12. They made me look into this thing with a dim yellowish/orange light which blew these hard puffs of air into my eyes that made them tear.

if its too distracting and they can see it an ophthalmic surgeon can laser them away with 0% risk to you if its annoying.

If you can only see it during bright day light then its prob fine.

the air puff thing is looking at the pressure of the liquid in the eye- I cant for the life of me remember what that specifically is for but if I recall floaters are suspended it the gel of the eye and may be exacerbated by pressure.

anyway from my understanding so long as they keep moving and dont get worse/ distract you then they're normal and OK.

do you by any chance wear contact lenses?

mfo · Oct 13, 2009

SMIDSY said:
if its too distracting and they can see it an ophthalmic surgeon can laser them away with 0% risk to you if its annoying.

If you can only see it during bright day light then its prob fine.

the air puff thing is looking at the pressure of the liquid in the eye- I cant for the life of me remember what that specifically is for but if I recall floaters are suspended it the gel of the eye and may be exacerbated by pressure.

anyway from my understanding so long as they keep moving and dont get worse/ distract you then they're normal and OK.

do you by any chance wear contact lenses?

Nah, no contact lenses. I was supposed to wear glasses when I was younger, but screw that I was a rebel lol. The floaters don't move. They have been in the same spot forever. I'm guessing those are the bad ones?...

SMIDSY · Oct 14, 2009

err.... yeah. those are the bad ones- so when you move your eyes the floaters dont... float around? They stay in the same exact place in your eye and dont move?

OK if thats the case you need to see an optician- its not urgent but seriously get seen.

mfo · Oct 14, 2009

SMIDSY said:
err.... yeah. those are the bad ones- so when you move your eyes the floaters dont... float around? They stay in the same exact place in your eye and dont move?

OK if thats the case you need to see an optician- its not urgent but seriously get seen.

I should have been more specific. When I move my eyeballs from side to side or up and down, the floaters go with it. What I meant is they've been in the same spot in my field of vision, kind of leftish if I'm looking straight ahead and not moving my eyes.

SMIDSY · Oct 15, 2009

yeah; sorry mate those are the bad type. My floaters and all floaters I have coma across that are OK seem to move around the field of vision as they are 'floating' in the eye's liquid and therefore can be moved.

Please get your eyes checked and have them image your retina. I think its time....

mfo · Oct 15, 2009

SMIDSY said:
yeah; sorry mate those are the bad type. My floaters and all floaters I have coma across that are OK seem to move around the field of vision as they are 'floating' in the eye's liquid and therefore can be moved.

Please get your eyes checked and have them image your retina. I think its time....

Yeah with my luck I have partial retina detachment or something. You think it's bad even though it's been there forever?

Benm · Oct 16, 2009

If you suspect a condidition like retinal detachment, you really should medical advice right away. The condition is not linked to using lasers, but it is one of those things than ca be treated with good result early on, but with serious lasting effects if left unchecked.

You'd think it would be very noticable if you had something like this, but in reality it isn't in all cases. Progress can be slow enough for anyone to sort of adapt, but with dramatic end results.

None of these things are special concerns to laser users, but as a group we are more aware of visual problems since we do have them coming by increased chances. With these things, i'd say spending a few 100 on an exam that turns up nothing does offset the risk of neglecting any serious condition. Most people react to failing vision as 'its just age', but if you have reason to take it seriously, act on that!

mfo · Oct 16, 2009

Will do...(goddamn it I HATE eye doctors...) Thanks for the advice everyone...:'(

SMIDSY · Oct 18, 2009

Benm said:
If you suspect a condidition like retinal detachment, you really should medical advice right away. The condition is not linked to using lasers, but it is one of those things than ca be treated with good result early on, but with serious lasting effects if left unchecked.

You'd think it would be very noticable if you had something like this, but in reality it isn't in all cases. Progress can be slow enough for anyone to sort of adapt, but with dramatic end results.

None of these things are special concerns to laser users, but as a group we are more aware of visual problems since we do have them coming by increased chances. With these things, i'd say spending a few 100 on an exam that turns up nothing does offset the risk of neglecting any serious condition. Most people react to failing vision as 'its just age', but if you have reason to take it seriously, act on that!

bang on the money- let us know what he finds but it does sound to me either like something not quite right with the retina or you have mild retinal detachment.

Apparently my mum says to watch out for something that looks 'like a curtain coming down' over your vision. if this happens your supposed to call 911 as thats complete retinal detachment and its an emergency (but rare luckily). And also keep an eye out for it getting worse (more/ bigger floaters).

She also says to get checked (here an eye exam is free on the NHS, I'm not sure how it works in the US...).

Let us know how it goes and good luck.

SMIDSY · Nov 5, 2009

bump- any news?

Damage, or paranoia?

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