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Re:How I Got My Laser Eye Injury by amluto on Friday August 02, 2024 @12:12AM (#41136041)
On the other hand, 2.5kW of light is not outrageous. It’s not drastically higher than some of the larger theatrical lights. (Not that being in a spotlight is pleasant, but it does not permanently blind the actors.)

A lot of this comes down to wavelength. Some wavelengths get focused by one’s eye and can concentrate their power in a small spot on the retina. Other wavelengths will be absorbed before they get to the retina and will therefore deposit their power over a larger area and in less sensitive tissue.

It can also make a difference if the light is pulsed.

Re:How I Got My Laser Eye Injury by ponector on Friday August 02, 2024 @05:05AM (#41137215)
But isn't stage light labeled for consumed power, not emitted power?
Re:How I Got My Laser Eye Injury by jaystraw on Friday August 02, 2024 @08:31AM (#41138304)
that's what i was going to say. and while you can use barn doors and lenses to hone the throw (the size of the beam on stage) -- it's not collimated like a laser is. even with parabolic reflectors like par cans. we're talking magnifying glass and the energy at the focal point (minus what the air absorbs for a given wavelength etc)
Re:How I Got My Laser Eye Injury by zettabomb on Friday August 02, 2024 @05:07AM (#41137225)
Are you sure that's actually 2.5kW of optical power? Non-scientific lights aren't usually rated by optical power, but by electrical power.