What Color Glasses Should You Wear for Laser Welding Protection?

Laser welding is a widely used industrial process known for its speed, precision and efficiency. However, high-intensity laser radiation also poses a serious risk to human eyes. To ensure safety, it is crucial to wear the right laser safety glasses - a common question is: what color glasses are best for laser welding protection? In this article, we will explain the relationship between lens color and laser type, commonly used colors, and how to choose the right laser safety glasses based on welding applications.

Why welding requires laser safety glasses

Laser welding exposes workers to invisible infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation as well as visible lasers (depending on the laser source). Without proper protection, the intense energy may cause:

① Eye burns or retinal damage

② Permanent vision damage

③ Skin burns caused by UV exposure

Therefore, laser safety glasses are designed to block or absorb specific wavelengths of laser light to protect your eyes.

Relationship between lens color and laser wavelength

The color of laser safety glasses depends on the type of laser they are protecting against. Different lasers emit different wavelengths of light, and each wavelength requires a specific filter color. Especially for laser safety glasses manufacturers like us at LaserPair, the safety glasses we manufacture are made by adding compounds that absorb specific laser wavelengths to absorb lasers of a specific wavelength.

The following are the types of lasers commonly used in welding and their recommended lens colors:

The best lens colors for laser welding glasses

① Green lenses

Ideal For: Nd:YAG lasers (1064 nm), fiber lasers (1030-1080 nm)

Blocks: Near-infrared (IR) radiation

Application scenarios: high-power industrial welding

Reason: Green lenses absorb invisible infrared radiation while maintaining good visibility.

② Orange or amber lenses

Ideal For: diode lasers (808 nm, 980 nm), low-power visible light lasers

Blocks: blue and green lasers (400-532 nm)

Application scenarios: visible light lasers used for collimation or medical lasers

Function: Helps filter high-energy visible light and reduce glare.

③ Blue or violet lenses

Ideal For: Red lasers (650-700 nm)

Blocks: Red visible lasers

Application scenarios: Special applications or laser pointers

Note: Less common in welding, but important in some laser systems.

Don’t rely solely on color - check the optical density (OD)

While lens color can provide visual cues, the most important factor is the optical density (OD) of the lens. OD indicates how effectively the lens blocks a specific wavelength of laser light.

For example:

OD 7+ @ 1064 nm = blocks 99.99999% of 1064nm laser wavelengths.

When purchasing laser safety glasses, be sure to check the laser wavelength range and OD rating printed on the glasses.

Check safety certifications, such as:

ANSI Z136.1 (US)

EN 207/EN 208 (Europe)

Products that meet the requirements must carry the CE mark

Tips for choosing the right laser welding glasses

① Understand the specific laser wavelength used (for example, the wavelength of ND:YAG laser is 1064 nm). If the laser wavelength to be protected is 1064nm ND:YAG laser, you can choose our LP-YHP-2 laser safety glasses from LaserPair.

② Choose lens colors and filters that match the wavelength

③ Make sure the OD value is sufficient to block the laser power: OD is the degree of attenuation of laser intensity by laser safety glasses. Generally, the higher the laser power, the higher the OD value of laser safety glasses is required to achieve the protective effect.

③ Make sure the glasses meet the certification: Choose laser safety glasses that meet the certification standards such as ANSI Z136.1 and EN 207

④ Never use ordinary sunglasses or colored glasses for laser welding

Conclusion

The best color of laser welding safety glasses depends on the type and wavelength of the specific laser used. Green lenses are often used for infrared lasers, such as Nd:YAG lasers and fiber lasers, while other wavelengths may require orange or blue lenses. However, the lens must be selected based on the specific wavelength, laser power, OD value and certification, not just the lens color.