Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmfull?

[solar00]

My goggles will probably arrive this week but I couldn't resist to test the burning capabilities of the red DX200.

Of course I'm not using it with optics or on reflective objects without the goggles
Only to burn non-reflective surfaces like matches.
But after a while I get a little headache.
I'm wondering if this can do any harm?

 

[Razako]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

My goggles will probably arrive this week but I couldn't resist to test the burning capabilities of the red DX200.

Of course I'm not using it with optics or on reflective objects without the goggles
Only to burn non-reflective surfaces like matches.
But after a while I get a little headache.
I'm wondering if this can do any harm?

It depends on how close your eyes are to the object you are burning. If the total amount of reflected light hitting your eyes exceeds a certain amount it can cause damage.

 

[Petrovski]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

I watch the dot of my DX200 without goggles as well, but only on a dark, non-reflective surface and from at least 4 meters away. If you are burning matches without goggles, I'd say you are too close for comfort.

 

[laserterd]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

i would be careful. Dont stare at it on a white surface. If i had to, i would say only do this on a black surface, and a black surface that isnt shiny. Maybe even squint your eyes a bit until the glasses come. You dont want to risk your eyes just because youre impatient.

 

[solar00]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

The headache lasted even this morning, but my goggles from Greg have arrived so no more burning without them.

 

[freshert]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

If you don't have goggles you can always use a phone camera to look at the dot indirectly. That's what I did before I got my goggles.

 

[UMO]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

I thought it was almost impossible to damage your eyes on a non mirror-like surface from under a .5 watt laser.

 

[marcuss]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

"A Class 3B laser system may be hazardous under direct and specular reflection
viewing conditions, but is normally not a diffuse reflection or fire hazard."

 

[laserwanabe]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

A cool trick is to actually get a washer to fit around your focus, so that you can still burn but you wont see the bright white flashes that hurt.

 

[FrothyChimp]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

Headache is a common result of staring at intense light sources. There are many possible reasons this may occur such as ocular migraine but what may be the real reason is the nitric oxides generated during the exposure of the retina to extremely intense light call protein nitration. This occurs during photoreceptor cell death. The headache may be caused by the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle under influence of nitric oxide or perhaps the effect of free radicals of oxygen generated during cell death on other neural cells.

Needless to say, if you get a headache from looking at reflected laser light then you shouldn't look at reflected laser light. Headache is not a normal state of health. There is always a cause. If you know the trigger (i.e. laser light in this case) don't repeat it. This should serve as a warning, but I know it won't.

 

[marcuss]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

Class 3B lasers shouldn't be dangerous on diffuse refections if not viewed very close and for less than 10 seconds.

 

[rocketparrotlet]

Re: Is staring at the dot of the red DX200 harmful

Headache is a common result of staring at intense light sources. There are many possible reasons this may occur such as ocular migraine but what may be the real reason is the nitric oxides generated during the exposure of the retina to extremely intense light call protein nitration. This occurs during photoreceptor cell death. The headache may be caused by the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle under influence of nitric oxide or perhaps the effect of free radicals of oxygen generated during cell death on other neural cells.

Needless to say, if you get a headache from looking at reflected laser light then you shouldn't look at reflected laser light. Headache is not a normal state of health. There is always a cause. If you know the trigger (i.e. laser light in this case) don't repeat it. This should serve as a warning, but I know it won't.

My mom gets a strong headache that lasts hours every time she looks at my 100mW blu-ray, even at 150 feet away. What do you think causes this? She is the only one in our family who has problems with it.

-Mark