What kind of safety glasses do I need for laser engraving?

The exact safety glasses you need depend entirely on the type of laser you are using. Different lasers emit different wavelengths of light. For example, a CO2 laser typically requires protection at 10,600nm, a Fiber laser at 1064nm, and a Diode laser often around 450nm. You must check your laser engraver's manual for its specific operating wavelength and the recommended Optical Density (OD), then purchase glasses that match those exact specifications.

Are all laser safety glasses the same?

No, absolutely not. Laser safety glasses are highly specialized and designed to block specific wavelengths of light. A pair of glasses designed to protect against a green laser will offer zero protection against a red or infrared laser. Wearing the wrong laser safety glasses is just as dangerous as wearing no glasses at all.

What are the two most important parameters when deciding on laser safety glasses?

The two most critical parameters are Wavelength (measured in nanometers or nm) and Optical Density (OD). The wavelength tells you what type of light the glasses need to block, and the Optical Density tells you how much of that light is blocked. Both must align with your specific laser's output to ensure your eyes are protected.

What color safety glasses for red laser?

To block a red laser (typically operating between 630nm and 680nm), the safety lenses will usually appear blue or green to your eye. This is because the lens material is designed to absorb red light while letting other colors pass through. However, never choose laser safety glasses based on lens color alone. Always verify the protective specifications (Wavelength and OD) stamped on the glasses.

What to look for in laser safety glasses?

When shopping for laser safety glasses, always look for: Correct Wavelength & OD that match your laser's specifications; High Visible Light Transmission (VLT) so you can see your workspace clearly; Proper Fit and Frame, such as a fit-over style if you wear prescription glasses; and Safety Certifications like ANSI Z136.1 or EN 207.

What happens if a laser hits your eye for 1 second?

The severity depends on the laser's power classification. For high-powered lasers (Class 3B and Class 4), a 1-second direct or reflected exposure is catastrophic. It can cause immediate, irreversible thermal burns to the retina, leading to permanent blind spots or complete loss of vision. The human blink reflex takes about 0.25 seconds, which is simply not fast enough to protect your eye from high-powered laser beams.

Home » The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Laser Safety Glasses

The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Laser Safety Glasses

The Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Laser Safety Glasses

When operating laser equipment, protecting your eyes is paramount. But with varying wavelengths, optical densities, and materials, knowing exactly what laser safety glasses to purchase can be overwhelming.

To ensure maximum safety and compliance, follow this step-by-step guide to choosing the correct laser safety eyewear.

Step 1: Identify Your Laser’s Wavelength

The most critical parameter when selecting laser safety glasses is your laser’s wavelength (or wavelength range). Often, a laser emits two specific wavelengths that you need to be aware of:

The Aiming Beam Wavelength: Typically low-powered and red, this beam aids the user in positioning the laser. While often considered “eye-safe,” never look directly at any laser beam.
The Operating Beam Wavelength: This is the high-powered working beam (often depicted as green in diagrams) that requires strict laser safety protection. Learn more about aiming vs operating beams here.

Safety Note: If you are unsure whether your aiming beam is safe for diffused viewing, do not make assumptions. Check with your Laser Safety Officer (LSO) or contact us. Recently, our team has encountered aiming beam wavelengths that require strict protection. All laser safety PPE is designed for unintentional direct and diffused viewing only. If a laser hits your eye, look away immediately.

Step 2: Determine Your Level of Protection & Equipment Needs

Optical Density (OD)

This refers to the amount of light attenuated by a lens and ultimately let through to hit the eye. Different lasers (and corresponding wavelengths) have different impacts on the human eye; the ANSI has created standards and published them based on research. For more information, see our guide on optical density in laser safety.

If there is any difficulty in knowing the appropriate optical density needed, do ask our experts. Below is a diagram to aid you in common industry notation. Kindly note that some assumptions have been made for diagrammatic purposes (photons are not drawn to scale).

Visible Light Transmission (VLT)

Color and visibility of specific color ranges often are significantly affected by laser glasses and goggles. Think about sunglasses—while effective at blocking the sun, less expensive lenses often make everything difficult to see because not enough light comes through. Quality laser eyewear ensures the target wavelength is blocked while maintaining high visibility for the user. The image below provides a relative comparison of visual light transmission.

Calculating Your Safety Rating

Laser safety eyewear from Laser 2000 is available with a wide range of filters. All safety spectacles and goggles are CE certified and conform to EN207 safety ratings.

Please get in touch to request a quotation if you know your required safety rating and we will provide a quote for eyewear with suitable filters.

If you do not know the EN207 safety rating needed for your laser eyewear, Laser 2000 offers a Laser Safety Calculation Form for you to complete. We run your laser parameters through our laser safety hazard assessment software and provide you with an assessment of the necessary protection level needed, free of charge, plus a quotation for the suitable filters.

Step 3: Choosing Your Filter Material

To meet your specific EN207 rating and operational needs, we offer several specialised filter technologies:

Plastic Absorption Filters: For cost-effective eyewear when using small to medium power levels, special plastics with absorbing dyes are used as the filter material. In the case of a laser hit, most of the laser energy is converted into heat and for this reason thermal stability is important. As standard, a scratch-proof coating is applied and for certain materials anti-fog, though small scratches do not effect safety.
Glass Absorption Filters: Glass filters are clearly superior to plastics, making them particularly suitable for use with continuous (cw) lasers of medium to high performance. Especially in the IR area, there are a number of powerful filters with very good color vision. In the case of a direct hit by high energy laser, the glass may break very quickly, therefore most filters have enhanced splinter protection as standard.
Reflective Coatings: For the highest level of protection, interference filters can be combined with absorbing filters for an almost unlimited number of blocking combinations. Incident light at angles different from 90 deg will be completely reflected according to the required angular range of +/- 30° (according to norms EN207/208). As a large part of the protection effect is based on reflection every scratch on the coated surface must be avoided.