Thread: Eye safety of walking through 5mW green laser vortex?

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The green laser vortex / tunnel effect seems quite popular. I built one myself by modifying a 5 mW green laser DJ unit.

What are the safety implications with a 5 mW green laser vortex and people walking through or towards one? Should the beam be placed such that no part of the cone ever has a chance on falling on someone's eyes?

On one manufacturer's site, they state of one of their units that its:
"... 5mw laser rating makes it fully legal and safe in all venues and applications" and is followed by several professional haunter testimonials that imply guests walk through the cone (at least on my reading of it):

http://www.halloweenlasers.com/HLbabette.shtml

Is the beam from a 5 mW green laser vortex so dissipated in power from a single point to a cone, as well as being further dissipated through fog, that it is actually safe for guests / patrons to walk through a green laser vortex cone, even if the edge of the cone might come in contact with retinas?

One thing that scares me is reading that laser light gets greatly amplified by eye lenses by many orders of magnitude.

Others here on these forums have come up with novel and creative ways of preventing the terminus of the cone from falling on retinas--I really like Icemanfred's solution in the following thread here:

Laser Vortex DONE!!!! Turned out amazing. Videos inside

and here:

Purchasing a pre-made green laser vortex effect?

Are many home and professional haunters recklessly disregarding safety concerns with their green laser vortex effects? I haven't read anything that I would consider authoritative or persuasive about the safety of the green laser vortex in a haunt situation.

Wish I knew for sure. I would love to have the impact of guests walking directly through the cone, but worry about liability and potential harm. Even if guests don't perceive harm, damage could still be occurring.

Heard there were some opticians / optometrists on these forums. Come out, come out wherever you are. :-) Any eye surgeons?

Everything that I've read about 5 mw lasers pretty much says that they will not cause eye damage, this is based on some testing done on people who were having eye surgery to remove an eye. They had these people stare into a 5 mw green laser for 5 to 15 minutes, with the eye that was being removed, and they showed no signs of damage to the retina.

Even with this type of study being done and the results being posted online I would suggest setting your vortex up so the beam of the tunnel is never in the eye of your guests at all. Reason? Because you're likely to run into someone that will claim it's done something to their eyes, even when it hasn't. For you're own peace of mind set it up so you don't have to worry about that situation arising.

Just my thoughts.

I think the safety is in the time of exposure. Sure a quick pass directly to the retina is no biggy... but if you stare at the sun long enough you better learn to speak dog.

The DJ lights dance around and there is no way you can follow a direct exposure unless your having spasms... but altered to creat a static form you can move into the beam indefinitely.

Originally Posted by headlesshorseman

Everything that I've read about 5 mw lasers pretty much says that they will not cause eye damage, this is based on some testing done on people who were having eye surgery to remove an eye. They had these people stare into a 5 mw green laser for 5 to 15 minutes, with the eye that was being removed, and they showed no signs of damage to the retina.

Even with this type of study being done and the results being posted online I would suggest setting your vortex up so the beam of the tunnel is never in the eye of your guests at all. Reason? Because you're likely to run into someone that will claim it's done something to their eyes, even when it hasn't. For you're own peace of mind set it up so you don't have to worry about that situation arising.

Just my thoughts.

Thanks Yubney and Horseman. Yeah, good point about the perception of potential harm regardless of the science. I want to enjoy halloween and not spend it worrying about phony liabilities. Wonder if there are countries more litigious than the U.S.

Speaking of which, I need to put up some sort of little fence around my yard haunt. Don't want kids tripping over electrical cords, etc.

Still concerned about setting up my green laser vortex this year. Here's a thought--what about putting it in my (empty) dining room (front of house). No picture window, but there are two windows looking into the dining room side by side with a gap between them.

Wondering if this would look effective at all. This setup would prevent the laser cone from landing in anyone's eyes. Thought about setting the effect up in my garage; but I don't want anyone trying to walk into the garage and it seems like a real hassle.

If anyone's put a green laser vortex inside their house, for viewing outside of the house, please send your comments and post some pictures.

I thought this was an interesting article, i think there was an update too if you look around..
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...ointer-hazard/

Interesting how they say not to look at defracted light.

so are they saying:
even if you have your vortex behind a facade with a hole in the center. So the light circle is on the opposite side of the veiwer. There is still a problem cause you can still see the light coming off the spinning mirror in the center???

Originally Posted by grep

I thought this was an interesting article, i think there was an update too if you look around..
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...ointer-hazard/

Thanks Grep. So, the controversy continues.

Here's the update you mentioned:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...-laser-safety/

Have not read it yet but am about to.

Mikeerdas
that was interesting
please post here if you get the chance to test your laser in this way.

I tested my laser (same one as mikeerdas) the laser was moving in a cirular pattern. Pointed the thermometer into the laser. I only noticed 1 degree difference.

I think I will test this methond on a green laser pointer I have to see if I get anything different.

Mike if you can test yours and post your reults here to compare with mine.