Radioshack Green Laser Danger?

Andrewajt62 · Dec 4, 2008

I was wondering how bad a Radioshack Green Laser (532nm, i've heard it's 3-7mW) can do to my eyes in less than a second, and a few seconds. Also what can it do to my eye if it shines off a floor/table or glass for less than a second, and a few seconds. Also, when damage happens, do you get a "blind spot", or blurry vision? Should I get goggles for this laser? I'd like to be safe. I am thinking of these 532nm goggles. Google these words and click the first result. I can't post links yet as I haven't reached 10 posts.

532nm Laser Protecting Goggles, Safety Glasses Unit Price:$30.00

I'd rather be completly safe instead of risking possible danger.

LRMNmeyer · Dec 4, 2008

You do know, that when viewed through safety goggles, the dot is much dimmer, and the beam is invisable, right? If you're not burning anything, there would not be a point to wear goggles. Unless it's overpowered, you would need to hold it steady for at least a few seconds to cause permanent damage. If that happened, you would have a blind spot in your vision for a while, but then your brain would fill in the space, although it would be blurry there.

Andrewajt62 · Dec 4, 2008

LRMNmeyer said:
You do know, that when viewed through safety goggles, the dot is much dimmer, and the beam is invisable, right? If you're not burning anything, there would not be a point to wear goggles. Unless it's overpowered, you would need to hold it steady for at least a few seconds to cause permanent damage. If that happened, you would have a blind spot in your vision for a while, but then your brain would fill in the space, although it would be blurry there.

Thanks for the info! I always thought that the goggles only kept the laser from getting in your eyes and made you see the world in a diffrent color. Also, how much of the laser would get in my eye from reflections from floors/walls and glass?

frogger · Dec 4, 2008

from a mirrored surface you would get most of it back, but matte tiles/walls etc would just be bright, not reflective.
5mW is the legal limit for a reason, it won't do any permanent damage before your blink reflex kicks in.
As long as your careful, you can use even higher powers safely.

But the power of a laser shouldn't change how you handle it very much, they can all be dangerous.

Andrewajt62 · Dec 4, 2008

Also, how much gets relected through glass. I shined into one of my numerous fish tanks the other day (carefully avoiding the fish) and I got the best of me (reflected in my eye) for under a second. It stppped feeling weird after a few mins, and I haven't noticed any vision loss.

HumanSymphony · Dec 4, 2008

Andrewajt62 said:
I shined into one of my numerous fish tanks the other day (carefully avoiding the fish) and I got the best of me (reflected in my eye) for under a second.

Stop worrying dude it's 5mW. I've taken over 200mW to the eye before! I don't recommend it lol scary stuff! 5mW is weak and a reflected beam will be even weaker. A quick swipe across your eye wont do any harm. Start worrying when you step up into the big leagues

Kris.J · Dec 4, 2008

HumanSymphony said:
Stop worrying dude it's 5mW.

I strongly disagree. "You play how you practice."

Treat every single laser as potentially harmful, regardless of the optical power.

It's the same thing as treating every firearm as if it were loaded - pretty common sense stuff here folks!

hydrogenman15 · Dec 4, 2008

I have NEVER EVER read anything about <5mW lasers causing life long blindness, HOWEVER its still not good or fun to get hit in the eye with a cheapo red.

--hydro15

HumanSymphony · Dec 5, 2008

Kris.J said:
[quote author=HumanSymphony link=1228359949/0#5 date=1228395557]
Stop worrying dude it's 5mW.

I strongly disagree. "You play how you practice."

Treat every single laser as potentially harmful, regardless of the optical power.

It's the same thing as treating every firearm as if it were loaded - pretty common sense stuff here folks!
[/quote]
It's not the same at all. With firearms it could be a life or death situation. It's more like a firecracker and an M-80. One will hurt your hand a little bit, the other will blow it off. I can't tell you how many times I've had 5mW reds shined in my eyes by idiots, and I've witnessed these same idiots shine it directly in their eye for very prolonged periods of time saying sarcastic stuff like "oh yea i'm so blind now :

". Eye damage is possible with 5mW, but highly improbable. Now, I'm not telling you it's safe, merely that 5mW is just weak as I've already stated. Most of my lasers are 100-300mW so in my mind 5mW is hardly considered a laser at this point

As you said, though, common sense is the key.

Kris.J · Dec 5, 2008

You miss my point.

"You play how you practice."

Treat every laser as if it would blind you, treat every firearm as if it would kill you, treat every fireworks explosive as if it would maim you.

If you practice half-assed, you're going to play in the big game half-assed too - when it really counts.

HumanSymphony said:
It's not the same at all. With firearms it could be a life or death situation. It's more like a firecracker and an M-80. One will hurt your hand a little bit, the other will blow it off. I can't tell you how many times I've had 5mW reds shined in my eyes by idiots, and I've witnessed these same idiots shine it directly in their eye for very prolonged periods of time saying sarcastic stuff like "oh yea i'm so blind now : ". Eye damage is possible with 5mW, but highly improbable. Now, I'm not telling you it's safe, merely that 5mW is just weak as I've already stated. Most of my lasers are 100-300mW so in my mind 5mW is hardly considered a laser at this point As you said, though, common sense is the key.

HumanSymphony · Dec 5, 2008

Kris.J said:
You miss my point.

"You play how you practice."

Treat every laser as if it would blind you, treat every firearm as if it would kill you, treat every fireworks explosive as if it would maim you.

If you practice half-assed, you're going to play in the big game half-assed too - when it really counts.

While that may be true sometimes, it isn't always. For example: me and my schoolwork. I never used to do my homework, but I'd ace all my tests. I could BS an entire essay the day before it's due even though we had weeks to do it, etc. In this instance, I never practiced, but my game was flawless. Maybe I'm just a genius, but whatever. I don't live by that "play how you practice" nonsense. That's like saying "treat all foods as if they were delicious" or something ridiculous like that. All-in-all, if you know the power of the laser, you know the level of caution to take. It's that simple.

Kris.J · Dec 5, 2008

Apples and Oranges.

Maybe after you get 15+ more years under your belt it will make more sense.

HumanSymphony · Dec 5, 2008

Kris.J said:
Apples and Oranges.

Maybe after you get 15+ more years under your belt it will make more sense.

Except the fact that it made sense 10 years ago :

I get it, it just doesn't have to be applied to everything when a simpler thing like a little common sense will do the trick.

Kris.J · Dec 5, 2008

HumanSymphony said:
[quote author=Kris.J link=1228359949/0#11 date=1228452126]Apples and Oranges.

Maybe after you get 15+ more years under your belt it will make more sense.

Except the fact that it made sense 10 years ago :

I get it, it just doesn't have to be applied to everything when a simpler thing like a little common sense will do the trick.[/quote]

I understand that you're what I would consider 'just a kid' now after having looked at your profile - so I understand where you're coming from.

I expect kids to make compromises where they shouldn't and justifications for them - they don't know any better.

Hemlock_Mike · Dec 5, 2008

KrisJ --

Give up -- he's the product of our American educational system.

That's what is coming behind us "old" people.

Mike

HumanSymphony · Dec 5, 2008

Hemlock Mike said:
KrisJ --

Give up -- he's the product of our American educational system.

That's what is coming behind us "old" people.

Mike

Blah. Don't lump me in with your average teens these days. I can't stand them myself. KrisJ, I'm not saying it's not good advice, but what works for you may not work for me. I have my own ways of doing things that work just as well. To each his own

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