Re: Calling all laser experts

[Gordon Miller <miller22@llnl.gov>]

A Class 3a laser is not a serious ocular hazard. Class 3a is kind of an
extension of Class 2, injurious after prolonged viewing. For Class 1, you
need to be satisfied the laser is safe, even after 3e4 secs (about a
traditional 8 hr shift). Class 3a lasers will produce injury if the viewer
stifles the reflexes to stop viewing (blinking and turning away). So
momentary exposures should not be injurious. A police officer was injured
when he stared into the beam of laser gun sight. A teenage girl alleged
loss of vision lasting some months after being twinkled by a would-be boy
friend, although no damage was evident during medical evaluation, and her
family hired a lawyer.

The problem with laser pointers is they are now so pervasive that kids,
rowdy English football fans, police car or chopper twinklers, and teenage
boys trying to wow their intended beloveds are using them so overexposures,
real or alleged, become a real possibility.

Police will bust twinklers because the pointer beam and gun sight beam look
the same so the officer doesn't know if he's facing Junior from Boy Scout
Troop 22, who ordered his pointer from Boys Life, or The Terminator.

Gordon Miller
miller22@llnl.gov

------------------------

>In a message dated 10/29/98 8:41:06 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>elizabeth_algutifan@wssrap-host.wssrap.com writes:
>
><< Now, my question is, isn't a Class IIIa laser a pretty severe ocular
>hazard? >>
>
>Use of these things on police helicopters and motor vehicles is also a felony
>in many jurisdictions.
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