Eye protection is much more important than any experiment, deadline, laser component, etc. Accidents can happen to even the most cautious users of lasers. your eye protection won’t work if you don’t use it -- all the time. Make sure the eye protection you are using is appropriate to the type of laser light with which you are working. While working, don’t take them off - ever! A reflection or refraction can end up right in your eye.

Remember that safety eyewear can be a hazard as well as a benefit. To protect the eyes form the laser beam, the eyewear must attenuate to a point where the beam is no longer visible. Therefore, the user can be exposed to flesh burns or clothing fire without seeking it happen. Be aware of this potential.

When setting up or aligning a laser system or subsystem, keep all beams below eye level. Never look in the plane of propagation of the beam or pas through it by bending down without first turning off the laser.

The beam from the laser can cause permanent loss of vision, even when it appears to be of low intensity! Intense coherent and incoherent radiation is emitted from Ti:Sapphire rods when they are being pumped by other lasers. Avoid direct exposure to the laser beams. Wear appropriate laser safety eyewear.