Macular burns are mostly associated with direct viewing of the beam. A peripheral burn of the retina causes a blind spot which may only have a small effect on vision. Peripheral burns are associated mostly with exposure to specular reflections. CO2 Determining the need for protective eyewear Specialized eye protection devices are designed to protect laser users from radiation while using Class 3b or Class 4 lasers or laser systems. Laser protective eyewear includes goggles, face shields or glasses using special filter materials or reflective coatings to reduce potential ocular exposure below the maximum permissible exposure level.
Some lasers produce beams at various wavelengths.
This must be accounted for when ordering protective eyewear. Wearing glasses designed for one laser wavelength, other than the one you are operating, may be as dangerous as not wearing any eye protection. The attached schematic is a representation of non-beam hazards and their association with laser system components.