Laser Goggles Slightly Exaggerated?

[Toaster]

Hey so first of all, this is an opinion, so hear me out. I have just freshly built a 445 running at 1A so I am assuming ~1w. So The first time I fired it up, it was at night about 100 feet. Wasn't nearly as bright as all the people said. It has a nice beam and a nice dot. On the wall inside, it was still not that bright up close, the dot was still not bright.

All of this without goggles. Not a hint of spots. A small amount of retinal overload (Yellow/orange spots) some after image (Blue Spots). No black spots though. And this was ~1W at a white wall. Even burning has the same effects. Now I might be crazy here but how come people are so afraid to look at a dot? It honestly seems like looking at the focus of the sun through a magnifying glass.

I am extremely cautious of looking into the beam and never have and never will. But the goggles, I have never understood.

 

[Prototype]

It's due to reflections and damage you don't see. Your white wall (if smooth) gives off specular reflections, meaning quite a bit of light is hitting you even if it doesn't seem like it. And most blind spots, if they're at the edge of your vision, are invisible to you because your body learns to ignore them. Just do the smart thing and wear your goggles.

 

[Toaster]

Yeah I am not saying they aren't a good idea because I know they are. I just think the need isn't always NEEDED unless you plan on starring straight at it.

 

[Prototype]

They're always needed, they're to prevent damage from an accidental exposure, emphasis on the accidental.


Edit: Post 1,800

 

[Toaster]

But then you can't see the beam, which is the point of the laser.

 

[oic0]

Its an over time thing. I do not use my goggles when outdoors, but I would if I were viewing the dot.

Also, the sun through a magnifying glass IS bad for your eyes. I got a new 8.5x11 fresnel and played with it for 10 of 15 minutes one noon day. I didn't think about it at the time since I never worried about it as a kid. Left me seeing black spots for 10 minutes, and that is with my prescription glasses on! (tinted + UV filtered). I'm just glad I didn't lose any of my already horrible vision to it. It was as bad as using a cutting torch without goggles.

 

[Prototype]

You don't look at the beam on a 1W visible laser inside, that's just asking for trouble. If you want a beam, get a lower powered laser, simple.

 

[DrSid]

Prototype: nice number !

Yeah .. 1W is class IV laser. The diffuse reflection is strong enough to harm eyes at some conditions. Yeah, those 'rules' may have some margin. You don't really HAVE TO wear the glasses. But then you SHOULD. Damages to eye from diffuse reflection at this level are so minor that they are not immediately noticeable .. but they still are irreversible. You never know on which side of the margin you are.

 

[lasersbee]

Hey so first of all, this is an opinion, so hear me out. I have just freshly built a 445 running at 1A so I am assuming ~1w. So The first time I fired it up, it was at night about 100 feet. Wasn't nearly as bright as all the people said. It has a nice beam and a nice dot. On the wall inside, it was still not that bright up close, the dot was still not bright.

All of this without goggles. Not a hint of spots. A small amount of retinal overload (Yellow/orange spots) some after image (Blue Spots). No black spots though. And this was ~1W at a white wall. Even burning has the same effects. Now I might be crazy here but how come people are so afraid to look at a dot? It honestly seems like looking at the focus of the sun through a magnifying glass.

I am extremely cautious of looking into the beam and never have and never will. But the goggles, I have never understood.

Are you an eye doctor of some sort....:thinking:
There must be about a Gazillion posts emphasizing the use
of goggles when using high powered Lasers...
DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND ANY OF THEM....:thinking:

I wear a Motorcycle Helmet... not to be able to ride my Bike...
but because I can not guarantee to a certainty that I will not
have an accident that may crush by skull....

Can you guarantee to a certainty that you will not have an
accident and get a direct hit to your eye (or anyone else's eyes)
while using your 1000mW Laser...:thinking:

If the answer is no.... then wear some safety goggles or you
may be shopping for a white cane and a seeing eye dog....:cryyy:

It really is that simple....
Then again.... they are not my eyes...


Jerry

 

[Toaster]

I do understand the importance but what I am saying is that they aren't NEEDED. to hold it. I don't look at the dot like staring at it. I see from about 6 feet.

 

[WLHostage]

Hey so first of all, this is an opinion, so hear me out. I have just freshly built a 445 running at 1A so I am assuming ~1w. So The first time I fired it up, it was at night about 100 feet. Wasn't nearly as bright as all the people said. It has a nice beam and a nice dot. On the wall inside, it was still not that bright up close, the dot was still not bright.

All of this without goggles. Not a hint of spots. A small amount of retinal overload (Yellow/orange spots) some after image (Blue Spots). No black spots though. And this was ~1W at a white wall. Even burning has the same effects. Now I might be crazy here but how come people are so afraid to look at a dot? It honestly seems like looking at the focus of the sun through a magnifying glass.

I am extremely cautious of looking into the beam and never have and never will. But the goggles, I have never understood.

Consider it like looking directly at a Solar Eclipse. We all know that the sun has the potential to damage your eyes if you stare directly at it for any length of time. If you attempt to do this normally your body will automatically react causing you to blink regularly and eventually look away in order to protect your eyes.

You wear glasses while using a laser for the same reason you wear them while looking directly at a solar eclipse. Due to the way the light is distributed both by your laser (ie wavelength) and by the Solar Eclipse your body no longer reacts properly in order to protect its self.

Chances are if you just glance at the dot on the wall or at the solar eclipse no long term damage will occur. However, if you look at it for any given time, or are around it with regular exposure to either one they absolutely have the potential to damage your eyes.

That doesn't mean it will instantly burn your eyes to ash if you just happen to take a quick peak. As your eyes become damaged your body and mind will both try to compensate meaning you may not even recognize the long term damage being done. But it is Guranteed that if you do this regularly you absolutely will destroy your eye sight over time. Thus the reason you should always wear goggles, not to mention if you ever have an accidental reflection the glasses will protect you.

Also if you get high quality glasses you can still see the dot (not the beam). If you buy cheap glasses you may not be able to see anything which certainly would take some of the fun outta it.

 

[Toaster]

Yeah I make sure not to look at it too long. Its hard to explain but after you look at it for some time you get this weird feeling of color desaturation, like if you were to look at the sun. And I don't look at it past that point and I almost never get to that point. I almost never look at the dot any closer than 10 feet.

I am not advising others to follow my example.

 

[WLHostage]

Yeah I make sure not to look at it too long. Its hard to explain but after you look at it for some time you get this weird feeling of color desaturation, like if you were to look at the sun. And I don't look at it past that point and I almost never get to that point. I almost never look at the dot any closer than 10 feet.

I am not advising others to follow my example.

Well... it's all in the details.

First of all, based on your description I would still guess it is entirely possible you are causing permanent damage if you are seeing problems with your vision.

The fact that these changes in vision dissapear in no way actually means they are not doing damage. As I mentioned before you body and mind will try to compensate, the fact that it goes away may only mean that your mind has been able to compensate for the damage you did (ie ignoring blind spots etc...).

Secondly I believe the warning for simply looking at the dot on the wall was within 6 feet, so you should be outside that danger zone. The beam its self can damage your eyes within 200ft+ with a direct hit or reflection.

Warnings like this are generally on the conservative side to help protect you, if you insist on testing this until you notice the damage to your eyes it will be too late to protect yourself.

 

[Toaster]

Yes I understand. I have been a lot more conservative after the initial 24hrs I had it. Just wondering why it was so NEEDED to have goggles. You know?

 

[Ash]

Yes I understand. I have been a lot more conservative after the initial 24hrs I had it. Just wondering why it was so NEEDED to have goggles. You know?

Simple: Accidents happen and it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Toaster]

Yeah I know, I got you, man. I just find it stupid when I can't see its brilliant beam.