In rare cases a dot of light from a red laser pointer may be thought to be due to a laser gunsight. This invisible IR component causes a degree of extra potential hazard in these devices when pointed at nearby objects and people. Because the invisible IR component in the beams of these visible lasers is difficult to filter out, and also because filtering it contributes extra heat which is difficult to dissipate in a small pocket 'laser pointer' package, it is often left as a beam component in cheaper high-power pointers.

The low-cost availability of infrared (IR) diode laser modules of up to 1000В mW (1 watt) output has created a generation of IR-pumped, frequency doubled, green, blue, and violet diode-pumped solid-state laser pointers with visible power up to 300В mW. They may also be a major annoyance in some circumstances. Thus, all laser pointers will have a warning label, stating the user not to point it at a person or animal's eyes. There are reports in the medical literature documenting permanent injury to the macula and the subsequently permanent loss of vision after laser light from laser pointer being shone to human's eyes. If aimed at a person's eyes, laser pointers can cause temporary visual disturbances or even severe damage to vision. Most jurisdictions have restrictions on lasers above 5В mW. There are significant safety concerns with the use of laser pointers. Laser pointers make a potent signaling tool, even in daylight, and are able to produce a bright signal for potential search and rescue vehicles using an inexpensive, small and lightweight device of the type that could be routinely carried in an emergency kit. Such pointers, particularly in the green-light output range, are used as astronomical object pointers for teaching purposes. The intensity of such scattering increases when these beams are viewed from angles near the beam axis. Higher-power and higher-frequency green or blue lasers may produce a beam visible even in clean air because of Rayleigh scattering from air molecules, especially when viewed in moderately-to-dimly lit conditions. Laser pointers can project a visible beam via scattering from dust particles or water droplets along the beam path. The small width of the beam and low power of typical laser pointers make the beam itself invisible in a clean atmosphere, only showing a point of light when striking an opaque surface. Red (635В nm), blueish violet (445В nm), and green (520В nm) laser pointersДЄ laser pointer or laser pen is a small handheld device with a power source (usually a battery) and a laser diode emitting a very narrow coherent low-powered laser beam of visible light, intended to be used to highlight something of interest by illuminating it with a small bright spot of colored light.

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