Is It Possible for a Hair Removal Laser to Damage Your Eyes if They Are Shut?

Question

Can the laser radiation go through your eyelids? Are some wavelengths or types of lasers safer than others?

Philip Young, MD · Answer

Lasers can cause reversible and irreversible damage to your eyes. The patient and the Practitioner should have protective eye wear on. Additionally, the laser should not be placed too close to the eyes. While you may see a light beam through your eye wear and with your eyes closed, you should be protected from harmful effects.

Mitchell Schwartz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

With your eyes closed it is very unlikely that a hair removal laser will penetrate deeply enough to cause damage to your eyes. However, any possibility of damage to your eyes is prevented by wearing protective glasses. Lasers work by creating a beam of highly concentrated light that penetrates deep into the skin where it delivers a controlled amount of therapeutic heat. This light energy is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles. They pretty much all have the same risks and must be used carefully, even the supposedly "safe" at home devices.

Is It Possible for a Hair Removal Laser to Damage Your Eyes if They Are Shut?

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Is It Possible for a Hair Removal Laser to Damage Your Eyes if They Are Shut?

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Everything you need to know about Laser Hair Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.