Plastic safety glasses for eye protection?

[louarnold]

I have a small laser pointer - a toy really. I want to perform some experiments with an optics kit, but I want some eye protection for it. Will a pair of standard plastic safety glasses do?

The laser is a red class II, 650nM, and runs at <1mW. It runs off 4 x 1.5v button batteries LR41.

 

[GAtkins]

No, but if it is truly <1mW, then you don't really need glasses. Just don't shine the beam into your eye for hours at a time. Most Chinese imports, even when labeled <1mW, are extremely over spec and could in fact require goggles.

Glenn

 

[Bionic-Badger]

Most of the reds will be at spec because it's easy to regulate. It's mostly those greens that aren't, as they take more circuitry to regulate the light output than a simple pot adjustment, and they also put out IR which can mess with the readings.

louarnold: you should be fine with that red laser pointer and no goggles. Plastic safety glasses won't do anything for your eyes, as they're for impact resistance not light energy protection. Don't bother with sunglasses either, as your eyes adjust to the darkness which dilates your pupils, making them larger targets.