"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...

Big Snip!!


What magnitude of laser power would you estimate to be required to
cause retinal damage at say 1 mile for what period of time?

If I may change to a different laser wavelength with a conforming
lens, a 1 megawatt laser will cause nearly instantaneous, and irreversible,
damage at ranges beyond one mile.
I agree with Happy Dog. The toys being bandied about here, and what
are available on the consumer market, are virtually harmless. On the other
hand, a NdYAG for example, is NOT in the visible spectrum and you wouldn't
know to look away until that blurry spot appeared in your visual field. Same
with CO2 and a host of other weapons grade gadgets.
My work with lasers, admitedly years, decades ago, made me
hyper-concious of the dangers. Especially having to sit through a
comprehensive retinal scan and image record every three months, just to make
sure I hadn't screwed up. Which in my lab was very difficult -- it two
people with separate keys on opposite sides of the room and a 3-second
klaxon to turn the gadgets on. I don't even like to see laser pointers used
in darkened rooms, even though I would testify to their safety.