[arctux]

Yes, but high-power lasers need to be treated with respect. Reflections are capable of instantly and irreversibly blinding. There's an overused joke in labs that work with them: "do not look into laser with remaining eye".

If you're going to attempt to build one, please get a pair of laser glasses that are rated for the wavelength you are using.

[mikey_p]

Spent alot of time working with low to medium power lasers in the entertainment industry, and I'm happy to say that was also a joke in that industry as well.

[arctux]

Powerful lasers can be scary, especially if they're in the infrared. The first warning you receive that it's reflecting into your eye is blood seeping into the vitreous humor from your retina's capillaries.

[rrock]

And you’ll hear the popping noise when the tissue is vaporized.

[ufo]

Has someone you personally know ever suffered a laser injury?

[rrock]

I met one person who took a hit from a pulsed laser (the -other- Nobel from today). Pulsed lasers can be even worse. Fortunately, it was in his peripheral vision. But he described hearing and feeling the pop.

[arctux]

My undergraduate advisor had a small hole in his retina due to a high-power laser. The injury would have been far worse if it weren't a visible laser, since his blink reflex greatly reduced the damage.