There are four considerations in picking the correct eyewear you need: Wavelength, Power Level, Beam Visibility, and Visible Light Transmission. Most lasers operate at one discreet wavelength, usually measured in nanometers (nm). Some common values are 532, 1064, or 10,600 nm. If possible, this is the first value you need to find out. It may be on the warning tag, inscribed on the handpiece, or in the operator’s manual. The next value is the power level, usually in Watts (W) or Milliwatts (mW). Look in the same places for this information.

Lasers can operate in the visible spectrum of blue, green, red, etc., or the invisible spectrum, either ultraviolet or infrared. In some applications, you will need to see the beam; in many invisible lasers, a red aiming beam is added so you can see where the invisible laser beam is focused. You must make sure that the glasses you pick protect you from the invisible beam but also do not block out the red beam you need to see. This is especially critical regarding alignment and construction lasers where the beam may injure your eyes, but you still need to be able to see it to do the work. It becomes a balancing act between enough protection and still being able to view the beam.