How I almost lost my vision...

WretchedMerc said:

I had a similar story my friend was pointing it in my ear and I turned my head and caught a direct beam from my 50mw green:cryyy: it made me super scared but I think im fine!!!

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Did a doctor check it out? If not, you might just not be so fine after all, 50mW is like instant damage.

I've never had these kind of experiences, but I only have high power labby's, not pointers.

All those gun-analogy rules do apply to powerful lasers - you probably should handle lasers as if they are turned on as long as the power source is there (or you are unsure about it).

One benefit is that an accidental laser shot is not very likely to damage someone or something, whereas a gunshot has good chances of doing actual damage.

I suppose the main part of any dangerous situation is that many people simply do not realize that a lot of light can actually do damage - not only to your eyes or valuable equipment, but even potentially setting something on fire.

Personally i dont let people play with my lasers unless i'm sure the have some concept about what they can actually do. Lighting a match or cigarette in the beam can be very convincing as a demonstration.

We are very new to lasers. My son who is 12 will be reading these posts. Heck I was not aware of these dangers. I have read every post here and done some research and convinced of the precautions that must be observed. He has had gun safety and hunter safety, handles a gun only around me. You cant call that bullet back once you pull the trigger, same with a laser, if someones eye is damaged you cant say sorry. Safety is foremost.

I suppose basic laser safety is very similar. One advantage of laser pointers is that they only do bodily damage if they actually hit someone in the eye. If you get a few 100 mW laser hit anywhere else, the worst result would be a minor burn that will heal.

Reflective surfaces are something that makes lasers more dangerous though - bouncing a laser off a mirror is likely to be about as dangerous as a direct shot, not comparable to ammunition ricochet.

One major issue with >100 mW lasers is that windows will reflect dangerous amounts of light, which requires additional care when used indoors.

windows reflect 4% at each surface, that's 8mW for a reflection. Still quite high. Usually doesn't get better at angles (unless you aim for the brewster angle).

Laser Safety Contact Lenses have already been patented. Can't wait! :san:

i have the same problem as most of you either be tight and not let them use it or let them use it and tell them not to point it a tpeople and as soon as they touch it they go and shoot it at peoples faces.

Remember, its 4-6% from EACH surface... And there are at least two, plus the coatings on the plasma cells...

Steve

twhite828 said:

...I now have much stricter policies on the conditions in which someone else can even see one of my lasers

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I treat mine like firearms; no one touches them, period.

2007Revolution said:

...the second last person takes it, shines it onto the TV, blowing out several pixels on their 40" LCD TV... the same guy got the whole group evicted from their apartment after spending all the rent on crack...

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You got it here first, kids - never lend your laser to a crack-addict.

"I'm not a crack addict, I'm a ROCK Monster!" ... "With a laser!"

:lasergun:

I too had a similar incident.

I had took my 240mW Blu-ray Focusable torch to work, and was showing it to people.

A guy i was showing it too wanted to see it and i told him no and gave him the whole pep talk.

Well he had the bright idea to try to force it out of my hand while i had it on and it scanned right through the bottom to top of my eye.

I quickly let go of it and told him what he did and he apologized.

He didn't mean to do it and was only messing around but it goes to show you how careful you have to be with your lasers.

"Luckily" didn't receive any damage "that i know of"!

My laser was focused to infinity as well which makes matters worse but im ok.

Sorry to hear about your accident, i dont think people really think about the dangers of these kind of lasers.

Remember when you were a kid and your parents taught you gun safety? (i hope they did at least) Well back then lasers like these didnt exist, so its a kind of a new age taboo that most people have any experience with so they dont know the dangers.

Just like humans learn fire is "HOT" people need to learn that lasers aren't toys and need to be used responsibly. OFC there is going to be that idiot who will intentional bad things with lasers (just like criminals using guns)

They need to do a world news article on laser safety and replay it over and over! (like commercials :O)

Anyhow i thought i would share my story and some laser safety with everyone!

Thanks for reading!
Jeff

This is an interesting thread, thanks to the OP for sharing +1

I have found myself in the situation where friends and family have wanted to try out a laser. My rule of thumb is this..

Knowing that some interest may be peaked in some to press that button, I always emphasize the danger, and firstly allow the 'n00b' to try my 5mW leadlight.

Dependent on their instinct and behavior while playing with a lower power, ultimately decides weather they are responsible enough, or aware of their surroundings to operate a bigger laser.

Some of the safety comes second nature only with practice. I cant think of anything other than a high power laser that would make one think about reflections..

I always hate when people ask to see my lasers. One reason I like the key features, I can turn it off and let them see it all they want!

I let a buddy of mine see my 20mW green laser....

I even told him that they are not good for your eyes.

But he is the kind of person that likes to f*** around on purpose...

He picked it up and shined it directly into my right eye.

I was pretty ticked off. It was only 20mW and didn't seem to do anything.... but still.

Needless to say, when I get my 200mw red, he will not be seeing it.

hxdrummerxc said:

... It was only 20mW and didn't seem to do anything....

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You'd better be sure you're allright! As in: go to a doctor as soon as possible! 20mW is far above what is safe, so you'd really have to be lucky not to have eye damage in case of a direct hit with 20mW

hxdrummerxc said:

I let a buddy of mine see my 20mW green laser....

(...) But he is the kind of person that likes to f*** around on purpose...

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Frankly, this is the kind of "friend" you truly don't need in your life. I got rid of those dumbasses very early in my life.

The analogy of treating a laser like a gun is a good one. Many people only have the experience of using those little dollar store 1 mW pointers, and think any pointer will behave in the same way. My laser pointers have never left my house, and the very few people who have seen them weren't allowed to handle them.

My only "laser" friend owns a 1/2 w RG stage projector laser (from Germany) and knows very well how to handle the stuff. He's the one who actually got me into the laser pointer hobby.

Robert