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FrozenGate by Avery

blue light hazard

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Feb 25, 2008
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Anybody ever heard of this? I found this while looking up some stuff on white LEDs.This must be the reason why 405nm is hard to look at for a lot of people.

High-energy visible light - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Blue-light hazard is defined as the potential for a photochemical induced retinal injury resulting from radiation exposure at wavelengths primarily between 400 nm and 500 nm. The mechanisms for photochemical induced retinal injury are caused by the absorption of light by photoreceptors in the eye. Under normal conditions when light hits a photoreceptor, the cell bleaches and becomes useless until it has recovered through a metabolic process called the visual cycle. Absorption of blue light, however, has been shown to cause a reversal of the process where cells become unbleached and responsive again to light before it is ready. This greatly increases the potential for oxidative damage. By this mechanism, some biological tissues such as skin, the lens of the eye, and in particular the retina may show irreversible changes induced by prolonged exposure to moderate levels of UV radiation and short-wavelength light
 





Wow! I was pointing out this hazard when the diodes first started emerging, I was basically told I was full of shit and there was no eye hazard as it was not UV yet...

Companies where employees work with blue lasers or light sources have to take special care not to be exposed too much.
 
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Wow! I was pointing out this hazard when the diodes first started emerging, I was basically told I was full of shit and there was no eye hazard as it was not UV yet...

Companies where employees work with blue lasers or light sources have to take special care not to be exposed too much.

So if I stare at a blue light for too long (Let's say a blue light bulb) you're telling me I can cause irreversible damage?
 
This is people who work with blue/violet (<430nm) stuff with exposure all day for years. If you look at it for a few minutes, the damage is nonexistent.
 
This is people who work with blue/violet (<430nm) stuff with exposure all day for years. If you look at it for a few minutes, the damage is nonexistent.

Man, that's crazy. Yeah damage closer to the UV spectrum makes sense. But blue like 473 blue? Then again isn't 473nm capable of killing bacteria? So I guess it does have potential....
 
Anybody ever heard of this? I found this while looking up some stuff on white LEDs.This must be the reason why 405nm is hard to look at for a lot of people.

High-energy visible light - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Blue-light hazard is defined as the potential for a photochemical induced retinal injury resulting from radiation exposure at wavelengths primarily between 400 nm and 500 nm. The mechanisms for photochemical induced retinal injury are caused by the absorption of light by photoreceptors in the eye. Under normal conditions when light hits a photoreceptor, the cell bleaches and becomes useless until it has recovered through a metabolic process called the visual cycle. Absorption of blue light, however, has been shown to cause a reversal of the process where cells become unbleached and responsive again to light before it is ready. This greatly increases the potential for oxidative damage. By this mechanism, some biological tissues such as skin, the lens of the eye, and in particular the retina may show irreversible changes induced by prolonged exposure to moderate levels of UV radiation and short-wavelength light

Yep, I believe I may have read that same wikipedia page or at least one of the sources for it awhile ago. It is very interesting.

Now imagine if we had 100% invisible UV lasers.... Kids (& a$$holes) would be running around blinding people & animals all over.
 
Yep, I believe I may have read that same wikipedia page or at least one of the sources for it awhile ago. It is very interesting.

Now imagine if we had 100% invisible UV lasers.... Kids (& a$$holes) would be running around blinding people & animals all over.

There are plenty of lasers which are totally invisible to the eye. They even come in direct diodes.
 
Certainly invisible IR wavelengths above 808 are available with power enough to do serious damage but I don't think IR is as fun to kids. UV causes photoluminescence which kids & adults can find quite fun. :san:
So I was just speaking specifically about invisible UV wavelengths since they seem to have this unusual effect on photoreceptors which may lead to quicker/easier retina damage & I would think people are more drawn to UV.
 
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So looking at the sky can skrew up my vision?

Sure - if you're looking into the sun ;)

I doubt the whole blue light thing is that bad though, and as far as lasers go, blue is 473 which is on the long side of what you see as blue, so should be relatively safe.

405 nm bluray is another story though. I think long term exposure to high intensities (not fry-your-retina high, but somewhat below that) would be unhealthy. Not only to your vision, but probably to your skin too. The question is how dangerous it actually is compared to other exposure, like on a day at the beach... I dont think many people will spend a lot of time in a 405 nm lit room ;)
 

LOL, i was expecting some similar replies from you ;) :eg: ..... ah, well, after all, we're a forum of laser maniacs ..... er, pardon, "enthusiasts" :p with some addictions for that wavelenght ..... :p :crackup:
 
Man, that's crazy. Yeah damage closer to the UV spectrum makes sense. But blue like 473 blue? Then again isn't 473nm capable of killing bacteria? So I guess it does have potential....
Man that's crazy and to think I just bought a 473nm blue laser
O well I guess that means My retinas will be germ free:crackup:
 
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