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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Interesting Safety Glasses

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Now I have heard a lot of read a decent amount of information. A lot of people use the argument that the vision of people cannot have a defined value. I.e. your vision is priceless. It is so VALUABLE that you cannot put a price on it. Well, some people are in this hobby for the fun of it and rely on a budget to have decent laser safety. Not to create massive flame ups and a large argument...

Here's my short story. While looking around in my toolbox, I found a pair of 'Laser Enhancement Goggles', which would sell for about 10 $ on most websites, and is commonly used in work when red lasers are present so that it is more visible. Of course, for this to work, they block out all other light. At first I thought:

These glasses are not enough to protect my eyes.

After building my 405nm PHR laser, I found out the easy way that these could. When Shining the laser through them, the light produced at the other end was equivalent to that of a 6mm UV led. Or for more precision, the dot looked as if the diode just LED'd on me. But it didnt. :san:

I also found out that 400UV sunglasses can have similar effect. The sunglasses of my department store blocked out most of the 405nm light, and the light passage looked to be similar to that of the red laser enhancement goggles. Kinda odd, but they both work as a viable option for laser protection. My opinion on this is that they would be suitable for LOW power i.e <150mW 405nm lasers.

_________

On the other hand, the redder looking safety glasses are incredibly outstanding in performance. They completely block 532nm light, and with the recent discovery, it also blocks out 445 @ .5W more than anticipated. They block it out completely as well. I will attempt to post pictures tomorrow, but unfortunately, due to technical problem, the laser is now permanently inoperable.

What is your opinion on such non-approved glasses? Or glasses that simply just use red-tinted plastic?

I recently found out what they were. They are extremely close to these :

Amazon.com: DEWALT DW0714 Laser Enhancement Glasses: Home Improvement

I also found out that I can wear those over sunglasses, to produce a vision so dim, I can stare even at the sun. But I found out that it was unnecessary.
 





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Ultimately the absolute best safety device anyone has available to them when dealing with lasers is their brain.

Personally I wear goggles very rarely, except when I know there is risk involved, or when specular reflection is if not necessarily dangerous, at least unpleasant to deal with. Such as when LPMing.

Lasers are not a cheap hobby... and taking shortcuts on goggles can backfire. A set of goggles which works well for say a 150mW laser, will not be anywhere near enough for a 2W laser. What it could do however is give you a false sense of security.

Also considering the price of lasers... goggles really aren't all that expensive, so I don't buy the "I'm on a budget" argument.

If you can't afford goggles... consider another hobby.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but that's reality. By the same token I can't afford to get into racing, however if I did, you can bet I would spend money on a helmet.
 
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Yeah, I can see your point in a false sense of security. But if it protects from half a watt of 445, and trivial light passes through... then?
 
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Yeah, I can see your point in a false sense of security. But if it protects from half a watt of 445, and trivial light passes through... then?

And how exactly do you determine that the light passing through is trivial?

Have you discovered some hitherto unknown method for measuring laser power with you eyes?

Unless you already have a good set of goggles and an lpm, relying on untested, mystery goggles is just asking for trouble.
 
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Although its is true that I don't have an LPM, no light passes through the goggles. Although my 445 is now broken due to inflexible wire, thats all I can really say. I don't lpan on going above 1.2W in terms of wattage.
 
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what is important in safety goggles is the OD rating... while uv rated sunglass protect from uv, it is atmospheric uv.... you cant stare at the sun with them.. same applies with laser, you cant take a direct hit...

safety advice should be given based on what is the safest. not what is the cheapest.

as ie said, the brain is what you have to follow. if you have a blu ray labby or 445, bolted to a table, uv sun glasses should be fine. but if you are waving a 1 or 2 watt hand held in a room of mirrors, it will not be sufficient.

michael.
 

TuhOz

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OP I understand what you're saying.
My mate uses very strong sunglasses (blocks ~100% from UV) as laser protection goggles. But he has only 200mw lasers, so...

But still I wouldn't use sunglasses or uv protection glasses with Class 4 lasers.
 
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I remember when I got my first red, wondering if I could use sunglasses for protection... so I tried shining the laser through the glasses.

Certainly looked dimmer, but a lot of light passed through. Also next day I noticed a distortion in the glasses when I put them on... from just 1-2 seconds exposure to "only 200mW" laser.
 
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I remember when I got my first red, wondering if I could use sunglasses for protection... so I tried shining the laser through the glasses.

Certainly looked dimmer, but a lot of light passed through. Also next day I noticed a distortion in the glasses when I put them on... from just 1-2 seconds exposure to "only 200mW" laser.


im not an expert but just stating what a smarter person said lol

sunglasses make taking a high powered laser shot to the eye worse, because your pupils are enlarged trying to let in more light.

michael.
 
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im not an expert but just stating what a smarter person said lol

sunglasses make taking a high powered laser shot to the eye worse, because your pupils are enlarged trying to let in more light.

Lol, I'm definitely not an expert... but that has always confused me somewhat.

I mean the reason why lasers are so dangerous is that the light is collimated/focused right? And the pupil/lens in the eye focuses that light on the retina, thereby concentrating and increasing the damage.

So really the size of the pupil is only relevant in terms of increasing the chance that the beam hits somewhere in there.

I don't see how the damage could be made worse, just that the likelyhood of damage is higher...

Of course I could be 100% wrong about this:eek:
 




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