Per a quick search, 500mW is the threshold where a laser can start doing damage faster than your blink reflex and reflections are also dangerous (IIRC this is the bottom end of class 4 lasers). Most of the projects I’m finding online that are similar to this one are around 1W, so double the threshold.
That’s not necessarily the “instantly blinding” territory I suggested, but even a short exposure will cause damage.
There are 2 parts at work. The focus reflex and the blink reflex. The window between them is the dangerous part. If the pulse is fast enough ( a few ms) then the eye can’t focus, and it’s fairly safe (unless you were already focused on the emitter). If the pulse is low enough power then the blink reflex kicks in and protects your eye.
Hitting a mosquito is a hard task, tracking one is even harder. It’s better to use an ultra short pulse, with a bit more power. You can also shift the frequency. If it’s an infrared laser then the eye won’t lock onto it, and will struggle to focus it dangerously.
Per a quick search, 500mW is the threshold where a laser can start doing damage faster than your blink reflex and reflections are also dangerous (IIRC this is the bottom end of class 4 lasers). Most of the projects I’m finding online that are similar to this one are around 1W, so double the threshold.
That’s not necessarily the “instantly blinding” territory I suggested, but even a short exposure will cause damage.
There are 2 parts at work. The focus reflex and the blink reflex. The window between them is the dangerous part. If the pulse is fast enough ( a few ms) then the eye can’t focus, and it’s fairly safe (unless you were already focused on the emitter). If the pulse is low enough power then the blink reflex kicks in and protects your eye.
Hitting a mosquito is a hard task, tracking one is even harder. It’s better to use an ultra short pulse, with a bit more power. You can also shift the frequency. If it’s an infrared laser then the eye won’t lock onto it, and will struggle to focus it dangerously.