ABSTRACT
The most common misconception laser users have about laser protective eyewear is that it is the first line of defense against laser radiation. In reality it should be the last line of defense. Beam containment will do more for a laser user than laser protective eyewear. If you can eliminate the possibility of eye damage by enclosing the laser beam path such that no radiation exposure to the eye is possible, then do so. While critically important, the implementation of laser protective eyewear is always understood to be the second line of defense. Laser protective eyewear has a valuable role to play in laser safety and presents many challenges to the user and laser safety officer (LSO). This chapter covers the selection and use of laser protective eyewear (see Chapter 5 for additional discussion).
