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FrozenGate by Avery

Spasms from viewing lasers

S

Super Critical

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Oct 13, 2011
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I have two green pointers which are under 30mw and 20mw 405nm.


After I view a laser spots on the wall, I sometimes get twitching in my forehead and eyes become overly sensitive . It happens immediately when I turn on my 20mw 405nm which I have had on a total of 10 seconds since I got it.


This feeling sometimes lasts a few days before it goes away.

I looked at the amsler grid and I don't see anything wrong. So I don't think I have vision damage.

I tried IR filtering the pointers thinking IR might be causing it but it didn't help any.

Does anyone else have this problem with low powered pointers indoors without glasses?
 





I have not had issues like this, but I have heard of others here on the forum being oversensitive to low powered lasers.
It would be advantageous of you to use glasses when indoors. That might help. ;)
 
Super Critical said:
I have two green pointers which are under 30mw and 20mw 405nm.


After I view a laser spots on the wall, I sometimes get twitching in my forehead and eyes become overly sensitive . It happens immediately when I turn on my 20mw 405nm which I have had on a total of 10 seconds since I got it.


This feeling sometimes lasts a few days before it goes away.

I looked at the amsler grid and I don't see anything wrong. So I don't think I have vision damage.

I tried IR filtering the pointers thinking IR might be causing it but it didn't help any.

Does anyone else have this problem with low powered pointers indoors without glasses?
Click to expand...
You should try wearing Laser Safety Goggles/Glasses to see
if that still happens....:thinking:

BTW <5mW is considered Low Powered Laser power that could
be used relatively safely without Laser Safety Goggles/Glasses...


Jerry
 
Last edited:
lasersbee said:
You should try wearing Laser Safety Goggles/Glasses to see
if that still happens....:thinking:

BTW <5mW is considered Low Powered Laser power that could
be used relatively safely without Laser Safety Goggles/Glasses...


Jerry
Click to expand...

Yeah maybe the <5mw law was for a reason.

Are there goggles I can wear and still see the beam?

Or should I just find a new hobby?
 
I had the same problem with 405nm lasers. I rarely used my 60mw violet but to be honest last year when I got new prescription glasses with "transitions" UV blocking lenses it helped alot, the transitions take the edge off the brain-scrambly feeling of the 405nm dot, at least for me.

As for your green lasers, I've had times of oversensitivity and when that happens I just go outside with them (at night) for a break. It's possible your 30mw laser is also overspec, and more power would intensify your problem.
 
Woodofcville said:
I had the same problem with 405nm lasers. I rarely used my 60mw violet but to be honest last year when I got new prescription glasses with "transitions" UV blocking lenses it helped alot, the transitions take the edge off the brain-scrambly feeling of the 405nm dot, at least for me.

As for your green lasers, I've had times of oversensitivity and when that happens I just go outside with them (at night) for a break. It's possible your 30mw laser is also overspec, and more power would intensify your problem.
Click to expand...

Okay good to hear somebody else has this problem. I have never had a seizure or bad migraines but for people that do, I would recommend staying away from 405nm lasers. I may try the UV blocking glasses. I assume they block some violet too and just cut the power down.
 
You could also say screw the fog and go with higher powers, then you'd need safety goggles indoors and outdoors it'd be impressive with zero fog. Around 1W of 445nm and 150mW 532nm both look great at night, no fog needed. :)
 
Last edited:
Super Critical said:
Okay good to hear somebody else has this problem. I have never had a seizure or bad migraines but for people that do, I would recommend staying away from 405nm lasers. I may try the UV blocking glasses. I assume they block some violet too and just cut the power down.
Click to expand...

I dont think the issue is with actual physical damage to the eye at all.

Many people experience that the 405 nm dot is very difficult to focus on. This is mainly so because the brain/eyes determine its distance and then focus the lens at that distance. The problem is that 405 is just on the edge of the visible spectrum and the refractive index of the eye lens is slightly 'off' compared to normal white light.

This may cause you to shift focus between correct for 405 and correct for average wavelengths when looking at the dot. I experience something similar with the 405s - and although it doesnt harm the eye, it is uncomfortable.

UV blocking lenses or glasses may help: while wearing those you will only see the fluorescense of the dot which is close to white and doenst cause focus problems as much.

As for how long the discomfort may last: perhaps your vision system gets adjusted to focussing on 405 after some time, causing it to misfocus on normal light for some time after. I wouldn't not expect this to last longer than minutes, but everyone reacts differently to these unnatural situations.
 
Woodofcville said:
You could also say screw the fog and go with higher powers, then you'd need safety goggles indoors and outdoors it'd be impressive with zero fog. Around 1W of 445nm and 150mW 532nm both look great at night, no fog needed. :)
Click to expand...

Saftey goggles meran you can never see the beam without a camera unless Silvershot was kidding. I also worry about the higher power lasers hitting unintended targets, not as much of a concern in Oklahoma. I like the fog machine, we get foggy a lot of nights here in Maryland anyway. Great for laser shows.
 
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