It really varies laser to laser. Generally the IR is nowhere near as
collimated as as the visible green component.
In most cases the IR will form a larger invisible dot around the visible one.
In terms of safety, if you're using the laser outside, or for pointing at objects at a distance of say 10 feet at minimum you will be fine... as long as you avoid reflections. The danger comes from the fact that most goggles do not block IR, as a result you may think you are protected and wave the laser around like crazy (always a bad idea) and catch a reflection, figuring, "what the heck I have my goggles on..." and the goggles will block the green light, but not the IR.
You also won't feel or see anything from IR... your retina has no nerve receptors to feel pain (iirc, could be wrong about this) but you will damage your vision.
Personally inside I don't look at dots of over 100mW lasers from closer that 5 feet. At the same time I look at beams all the time without looking at the dot...
Overall it really depends on personal user choices, on whether IR ever has to be a concern or not. I have 5 IR filters, and side from using them for testing, I don't use them, but again... I don't burn with green lasers, and don't look at dots from up close.
@Foshizzle45 - Site reference for your statement please... there is no way at all to tell IR content visually from looking at a green laser beam, I could be wrong though, wouldn't be the first time, so reference?
