Gubter87

Member

Total Posts: 66

Member Since:
January 2010

March 08, 2010, 01:22 PM

I just noticed that one of my laser diodes in the front seems to have burned out, it is not shining nearly as bright as the others. How do you guys go about checking your 300+ diodes? Will regular sunglasses be enough protection for the eyes?

OverMachoGrande

Editor

Total Posts: 502

Member Since:
January 2010

[ # 1 ]

March 08, 2010, 02:49 PM

If you trust the rating that the US Government gives them, these diodes aren’t going to hurt your eyes permanently unless you look at them for extremely prolonged duration or looking through a magnifying glass at them.  Yeah, they can make your eyes sore, but it is only temporary.  I was scared as shit the first time that happened, though!

I have some laser sunglasses that completely block the red color.  It’s really funny… the laser light just DISAPPEARS, and when you are watching Luke and Darth Vader fight, both lightsabers are blue.  When I use those, it does keep it from hurting your eyes completely, but it’s more difficult to see if the diodes are burnt out or not -which makes it difficult since I can’t miss a single one when I send them out.

I rarely use them because of that, and I just flip the helmets over and check with my nake eyeballs for dark spots when I check them.  I flip over one at least two or three times every single day and it doesn’t seem to be harmful, but it’s your eyeballs so don’t take my word for it!  If you’d like some 650nm laser goggles/sunglasses, you can get them off eBay for something like $20-$30.

So, they aren’t *supposed* to be able to cause permanent damage, but, of course, I’m sure there is some way you could -so be really, really careful!  Don’t press it.  Just give a quick glance.  I no longer have to glue in the diodes with the newer helmets, so that means if you think one is burnt out, push it out from the inside with your finger, and then make sure.  If it’s burnt out and it’s one of my laser messiah helmets… then either I or AiXiZ will send you a replacement and instructions on how to swap it out.

Now, HIGHER POWERED DIODE DEVICES WILL -WITHOUT A DOUBT- HURT YOUR EYES.  So, if your diodes aren’t 5mW or if you don’t know because you are using some other devices, DO NOT look at them!  Don’t do it -even if they are diffused!  You’re playing with real fire with those diodes anyway due to the potential of overstimulation, and certainly with your eyes if you look at them directly.  You can’t even import devices with 20mW and higher into this country unless the shipper has clearance -it’s illegal, and say what you want to about the US Government… it’s usually pretty laid back with what you can get. 

-O.M.G.

Build your own Laser Helmet | Laser Brush | Laser Device at OverMachoGrande.com!  The internet’s first, best, and biggest consumer advocate site on laser therapy for hair loss!  It’s time to educate yourself about one of the greatest treatments in FORUM HISTORY…

tonyb

Member

Total Posts: 32

Member Since:
January 2010

[ # 2 ]

March 08, 2010, 03:48 PM

Another easy way is to lay a thin piece of cloth or paper over the diodes. The laser will shine though partially and you can still identify the dead or low output laser pretty easily that way as well. Be careful though, when a laser diode short circuits and can be identified by it putting out a very faint red light, it can be EXTREMELY hot and easily burn you if you touch it. In that case just mark the laser diode when its on and then let it cool off for a bit before working on removing it.

I would not recommend using sunglasses when looking at a laser- they dilate your pupils and you can actually cause more harm using them.

Hope those help!
T

Nidhogge

Editor

Total Posts: 371

Member Since:
January 2010

[ # 3 ]

March 20, 2010, 03:15 PM

For what it’s worth, I asked Dr. Maricle about this a year or so ago and he said that it does not put your eyes at risk at this wavelength.