eye damage

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From: Paul Doherty (pauld@exploratorium.edu)
Date: Thu Jun 03 2004 - 12:34:04 PDT 

Message-Id: <l0311072bbce52d9ebd9b@[192.168.112.30]>
Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2004 12:34:04 -0700
From: Paul Doherty <pauld@exploratorium.edu>
Subject: eye damage

It's maily arc welders that cause eye damage. The arc emits UV light which
can sunburn the cornea.

Lasers have beams of light that can be focussed to a small point on the
retina by the eye. If the initial laser beam has enough energy (a few
milliwatts) the concentration of energy can then heat up and scar the
retina regardless of the wavelength.

Paul D

>Student question: if looking at light from lasers and acetylene torches both
>hurt the eyes, how does that work? Aren't they different wavelengths?
>
>Not simple, I can see that! But lasers, some lasers, I read, focus infrared
>light, but acetylene torches: don't they give off ulraviolet???? What
>happens, esp. considering laser eye surgery?
>
>Thanks, Karen W.
>
>

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