Hi there, been researching but can't find exactly "detailed" information. Why are IR lasers, or near IR laser diodes so dangerous? Please, let's try to make it educative.
Why the thread: let's say a few laser forums have 10,000 words on the threads, well, for the sake of this example we could say 3,000 of those words are about "careful", "use goggles", "IR is dangerous", "you can go blind". Ok, that's like talking about bullets, butane or propane gas and even carbon monoxide: "it can kill you". Mmmm ok but as hobby and science people we should have more info. A forum of poisons with a thread on arsenic will surely have something more than "it can kill you".
** To avoid misunderstandings (in case someone takes it badly as a rant or complain, it's not), it's just about expanding information, if there is a thread about it please share, I couldn't find it. So, my contribution in general terms:
1. IR is invisible, this means you don't see it coming. IR or near IR is not perceptible in general by the human eye. This means you could harvest one of this diodes, try it, put some current on it and think "doesn't work" while looking directly to it, ok you just got your eye burned because there is no visible light. No visible light doesn't mean is not there. The major problem is, not visible = no human reflex to close your eyes.
2. Why is it dangerous to my eyes?, because it can burn your retina and based on my readings: depending on the wavelength it can hurt other parts of your eyes. It's dangerous because we only have 2 eyes. It's dangerous because technology at this point can't give you new eyes.
3. But it doesn't feel like it burns... even if your skin feels nothing doesn't mean it's not dangerous. Remember, the eye has a biological system of lenses, this means it can focus the light or not visible spectrum into one tiny point with more power than the one you can measure outside your eye. Besides your retina is way more sensitive and delicate than your skin.
4. It's not easy to block. IR can be blocked with special filters, special. You can use home made materials and block visible light thinking "ok it's blocked, everything it's blocked", nope. Just because the visible spectrum doesn't pass your homemade filter doesn't mean IR, or to say something "bluetooth and wifi" are blocked too. AVOID playing with home made stuff. Based on my readings, a practical solution is to use an IR thermometer to check things out, don't use your eyes.
5. Handling. Dealing with a laser diode is not like dealing with a gun, that accidentally fires up, the danger is having some reflection of the beam to your eyes, or if you are familiar with DIY stuff, sometimes a silly movement can put things upside down, and materials pointing right at you. Who, despite knowing the danger on soldering iron or chemicals still managed to get burn? you get the idea.
Can you add something?. I've been reading lots of comments treating IR diodes as evil witches, but can something with depth can be added? like, weak reflection of an operating <900mw laser can still hurt your eyes? something like that? If someone just adds a post saying "because it's dangerous", then it's like church saying the devil is evil... and it would be a failed thread.
Why the thread: let's say a few laser forums have 10,000 words on the threads, well, for the sake of this example we could say 3,000 of those words are about "careful", "use goggles", "IR is dangerous", "you can go blind". Ok, that's like talking about bullets, butane or propane gas and even carbon monoxide: "it can kill you". Mmmm ok but as hobby and science people we should have more info. A forum of poisons with a thread on arsenic will surely have something more than "it can kill you".
** To avoid misunderstandings (in case someone takes it badly as a rant or complain, it's not), it's just about expanding information, if there is a thread about it please share, I couldn't find it. So, my contribution in general terms:
1. IR is invisible, this means you don't see it coming. IR or near IR is not perceptible in general by the human eye. This means you could harvest one of this diodes, try it, put some current on it and think "doesn't work" while looking directly to it, ok you just got your eye burned because there is no visible light. No visible light doesn't mean is not there. The major problem is, not visible = no human reflex to close your eyes.
2. Why is it dangerous to my eyes?, because it can burn your retina and based on my readings: depending on the wavelength it can hurt other parts of your eyes. It's dangerous because we only have 2 eyes. It's dangerous because technology at this point can't give you new eyes.
3. But it doesn't feel like it burns... even if your skin feels nothing doesn't mean it's not dangerous. Remember, the eye has a biological system of lenses, this means it can focus the light or not visible spectrum into one tiny point with more power than the one you can measure outside your eye. Besides your retina is way more sensitive and delicate than your skin.
4. It's not easy to block. IR can be blocked with special filters, special. You can use home made materials and block visible light thinking "ok it's blocked, everything it's blocked", nope. Just because the visible spectrum doesn't pass your homemade filter doesn't mean IR, or to say something "bluetooth and wifi" are blocked too. AVOID playing with home made stuff. Based on my readings, a practical solution is to use an IR thermometer to check things out, don't use your eyes.
5. Handling. Dealing with a laser diode is not like dealing with a gun, that accidentally fires up, the danger is having some reflection of the beam to your eyes, or if you are familiar with DIY stuff, sometimes a silly movement can put things upside down, and materials pointing right at you. Who, despite knowing the danger on soldering iron or chemicals still managed to get burn? you get the idea.
Can you add something?. I've been reading lots of comments treating IR diodes as evil witches, but can something with depth can be added? like, weak reflection of an operating <900mw laser can still hurt your eyes? something like that? If someone just adds a post saying "because it's dangerous", then it's like church saying the devil is evil... and it would be a failed thread.
