How To Select The Right Laser Safety Glasses

By Author: Navin Prakash
Total Articles: 56
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Laser safety glasses are the protective eyewears used to protect eyes from the hazardous effects of visible and invisible wavelengths of the laser light. The visible and near-infrared lights are competent enough to penetrate the eyes and damage the optic nerve, retina and central portion of the eyes. The laser safety eyewears are suggested to wear for the intrabeam viewing and working with the laser light devices. These eyewears act like the protective covering for the eyes.

The high power and moderate laser beams may cause the serious and life threatening injuries. Even the low-density light may lead to the permanent eyesight loss or skin injury. When the highly intense monochromatic light falls into a laser cavity it results in laser emission. Wave length emission, output power and beam characteristics are three major components of the laser system. There are four types of laser classes: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4.

The hazardous effect increased with the higher ranking in the classification. Usually, roman numerals are used for class number identification. In the identification process, affix is use ...
... to label onto the product having precise details of total output power, wavelength penetration information and classification. The products included in the Class 1 are entirely safe under the standard conditions. In order to prevent the human access to the laser radiations some special designs are used during the operation.

The visible and low density laser beams are considered in Class 2 system. The Class 2 laser products must have the 'CAUTION' label. The reflex action of eye blinking on exposure to bright light protects the user's eye from any kind of injury. However, there are chances of potential hazards if the user has direct contact or view of the light for the long duration.

Class 3 laser system products must have a 'CAUTION' and a 'DANGER' label with all important details. If the user has viewed the light just for a moment then, the natural eye blinking action protects the eyes. During an optical alignment or any other optics collecting process there is potential risk of injury. The direct and constant view of the laser beams may have severe problems and skin hazards. Laser safety glasses are recommended for the Class 3 products.

Class 4 systems have great risk of potential eye and skin hazards through direct, secondary or diffuse reflections. A 'DANGER' label is affixed to these products and flammable materials are restricted around the laser area. These products may ignite the flammable and damage the materials. Laser glasses are highly recommended for Class 4 laser products.

Laser beams are commonly used in various events and operations like in laser surgery, watching movie on DVD, remove the old and unwanted tattoos. The people who frequently deal with the laser practices should be aware of the safety practices, especially about the proper usage of laser safety glasses. The optical density and wavelength coverage range of the laser eyewears are basic parameters that considered while selecting the laser safety eyewears.

The laser safety glasses should be selected in conformation with standard EN 166, EN 207 and EN 208. Before selecting the most suitable safety eyewears you should check some important aspects of the eyewears that include laser wavelength, laser mode, output parameters, stability to radiations and spectral transmittance and optical density.