The short answer is yes, laser levels can damage the eyes. Even Class II laser levels can still damage the eyes if the eyes are exposed to the light longer than 0.25 seconds. This is roughly the amount of time that the blink reflex is activated. So any exposure longer than a quarter of a second can potentially lead to eye injuries. Overexposure to Class II laser lights can lead to retinal burns or photochemical retinal damage. The higher the Class of the laser level, the greater is the risk for eye injuries. Class III lasers can lead to retinal burns and cataracts with prolonged exposure.