1000mw reflected into my eyes

[jman]

A couple of days ago I was using a blue 1000mw laser pointer outside during night time and something reflected it directly back into my eyes. I was not wearing safety glasses or goggles so it was brighter than bright to the point where I saw bright white then red/black. I had my eyes checked out by my eye doctor and he concluded that my eyes were not damaged, so yeah no more lasers for me.

My eyes currently feel like a mix of painful, itchy and weird like there is something inside of them (arc eye?) but honestly I am just happy I can still see out of both eyes. I can't shake the feeling that there is damage and it won't surface right away so I will continue to get my eyes checked regularly and make a note if my vision changes. Please wear protection over your eyes when using laser pointers!

 

[NightExplorer96]

A couple of days ago I was using a blue 1000mw laser pointer outside during night time and something reflected it directly back into my eyes. I was not wearing safety glasses or goggles so it was brighter than bright to the point where I saw bright white then red/black. I had my eyes checked out by my eye doctor and he concluded that my eyes were not damaged, so yeah no more lasers for me.

My eyes currently feel like a mix of painful, itchy and weird like there is something inside of them (arc eye?) but honestly I am just happy I can still see out of both eyes. I can't shake the feeling that there is damage and it won't surface right away so I will continue to get my eyes checked regularly and make a note if my vision changes. Please wear protection over your eyes when using laser pointers!!

Well.....

1W of 445nm isn't consider a laser pointer, that's consider a very high-powered laser capable of serious injuries if treated improperly. It's good you understand the need for safety glasses and took the time to share your horrifying experienced with us, shows accidents can truly happen when you least expect it! Please keep us updated.


-Alex

 

[hwang21]

Get your eyes check by an *optometrist* they will know whether you have eye damage. Frankly, 1W in your eye, I'd be surprised if there wasn't any damage... good luck and be careful

 

[Sigurthr]

I should point out that since the OP's location is unknown, it is only in the US that an Optometrist may be capable of diagnosing a retinal injury. In other countries or regions it is an Opthamologist that needs to be seen, as an Optometrist is only trained to check for and fit corrective lenses. Regardless of the location, an Opthamologist can diagnose retinal injury.

 

[FallOutFighter]

Well.....

1W of 445nm isn't consider a laser pointer, that's consider a very high-powered laser capable of serious injuries if treated improperly. It's good you understand the need for safety glasses and took the time to share your horrifying experienced with us, shows accidents can truly happen when you least expect it! Please keep us updated.


-Alex

Lol Alex you make it sound like using a 1w laser means instant death.

 

[NightExplorer96]

Lol Alex you make it sound like using a 1w laser means instant death.

Sorry haha. I just wanted the OP to realize how easily 1W of light can take someones vision out

-Alex

 

[IsaacT]

I view 1W of light like I view a beaker of acid. Don't get it on yourself or others. Safety equipment advisable. But not terrifying or frightening. Just marvelous.

 

[jman]

I should point out that since the OP's location is unknown, it is only in the US that an Optometrist may be capable of diagnosing a retinal injury. In other countries or regions it is an Opthamologist that needs to be seen, as an Optometrist is only trained to check for and fit corrective lenses. Regardless of the location, an Opthamologist can diagnose retinal injury.

Yes I went to my ophthalmologist who I see on a regular basis for an unrelated eye issue. He performed some tests, dilated my eyes and then examined them with a machine. To my delight he told me that there was no damage and I should contact him if my vision changes. That moment was a huge sigh of relief for me, although it may be too early to tell if there will be any permanent damage. My eyes still hurt so damn badly ... keeping my fingers crossed for now.

 

[Marco Polo]

If you were pointing it outside at night, then it sounds to me like you might have hit a road sign, or a similarly (retro)reflective object. These can surprise you with how brightly they reflect, and if the laser is powerful enough (watts), I could see such reflections as being dangerous in some cases.

At the same time, they are not perfect retro-reflectors and so the reflection will necessarily be diffused compared to a collimated laser beam. Substantially so, although the reflection will still be beyond bright despite the reduced power density.

You would have to be exceedingly unlucky for it to have been a specular reflection off of something mirror-like (metal, car mirror, etc.). My guess is that you hit a retro-reflective sign that you didn't know was there, and it surprised the crap out of you.

In any case, due to divergence and/or optical scatter, you can be fairly certain you didn't actually take a 1W hit. Your eyes are probably fine, based on your doctor's examination, although it's never wrong to double-check if you think something isn't right.

 

[Alaskan]

Sorry such happened to you, when I was a kid I burned one of my eyes trying to find the sun with a small telescope, couldn't find it so I thought I'd remove the sun filter, move the scope until I was getting closer to the sun, by becoming brighter, then put the filter back in and steer it the rest of the way.... Terrible plan, I got right on the sun and for two days everything had a pink shade in one eye.... Never told my parents fearing I'd be punished. Fortunately, the pink shade went away but even to this day, near 60 years old now I have terrible night vision out of that eye, otherwise I can't tell it ever happened.