i work in a retail store in canada and i was wondering about the safety of the barcode scanners there. Sometimes, the workers leave them turned towards the people entering the store and I sometimes look at them by accident because they just so happen to be in my field of vision.
Now as far as I understand, these are usually Class II lasers that cause no damage because of the blink reflex and what not. Funny thing is that with these particular scanners i've never actually had a blink reflex and everytime i looked at them there was no reaction whatsoever from my eyes (while other lasers i've been exposed to in the past did trigger it instantly). I know that these are usually rapid-scanning lasers and are therefore safe so perhaps i was looking from an oblique angle or maybe they just turn off after a while?
Whatever it is, psychologically at least, it always makes me feel uncomfortable noticing them even as other people seem to not care either way. Maybe it's just my bad luck
How long should the eye be exposed to lasers in order for it damage them? Especially if they're the type of scanners the retail industry uses?
Now as far as I understand, these are usually Class II lasers that cause no damage because of the blink reflex and what not. Funny thing is that with these particular scanners i've never actually had a blink reflex and everytime i looked at them there was no reaction whatsoever from my eyes (while other lasers i've been exposed to in the past did trigger it instantly). I know that these are usually rapid-scanning lasers and are therefore safe so perhaps i was looking from an oblique angle or maybe they just turn off after a while?
Whatever it is, psychologically at least, it always makes me feel uncomfortable noticing them even as other people seem to not care either way. Maybe it's just my bad luck
How long should the eye be exposed to lasers in order for it damage them? Especially if they're the type of scanners the retail industry uses?
