What Is the Difference Between Laser Safety Glasses and Regular Welding Glasses?

With the widespread application of laser technology, laser safety glasses, as important equipment for protecting the eyes from laser damage, have become well-known and widely used. Many people wonder, "Laser safety glasses and ordinary welding glasses look very similar; can I use ordinary welding glasses to protect my eyes during laser operations?" However, in reality, laser safety glasses and ordinary welding glasses are designed to address completely different hazards. Using the wrong eye protection equipment can lead to serious and irreversible eye damage. This article will explain the main differences between laser safety glasses and standard welding glasses in terms of working principles, protection range, safety standards, and application scenarios.

1. Different Hazards, Different Protection Purposes

Laser Safety Glasses

Laser safety glasses are designed to protect the eyes from laser radiation. Lasers concentrate energy in very narrow wavelengths and beams, and even reflected or scattered light can instantly damage the retina or cornea. They are used in: laser cutting, laser welding, laser marking, laser medical procedures, and other work scenarios.

Welding Glasses

Welding glasses are designed to protect against: intense visible light (arc glare), ultraviolet (UV) radiation, infrared (IR) radiation, and sparks and molten metal splashes. They are typically used in: arc welding, MIG/TIG welding, and other welding operations.

Main Difference:

Laser safety glasses protect against specific laser wavelengths, while welding glasses protect against broad-spectrum arc light.

2. Protection Principle: Specific Wavelength Protection vs. Light Blocking Protection

Laser Safety Glasses

Laser safety glasses work by absorbing or reflecting specific laser wavelengths. Their effectiveness is determined by the following factors:

Wavelength range (nm)

Optical Density (OD value)

If the wavelength does not match, even if the lens appears dark, the protection level is essentially zero.

Welding Glasses

Welding glasses use a shade number (5-14) to reduce visible light brightness and thermal radiation. The higher the shade number, the lower the visible light transmittance – but this does not mean they can protect against lasers.

Important Note:

Dark welding lenses do not guarantee laser safety. The OD value (OD4, OD5, OD6+) indicates the degree of laser energy attenuation, while the shade number only describes the darkness of the lens. 

3. Safety Standards and Certifications

Laser Safety Glasses

Certified according to laser-specific standards, such as:

EN 207 / EN 208 (Europe)

ANSI Z136 (USA)

GB 30863 (China)

These standards verify their protection capabilities against direct and scattered laser radiation. Welding Glasses

Typically comply with the following standards:

EN 169 / EN 175

ANSI Z87.1

These standards focus on impact resistance and arc light protection, not laser radiation protection.

4. Can welding glasses be used as laser safety glasses?

The answer is no.

Even the darkest welding glasses do not have specified laser wavelengths for protection, nor do they have an OD rating (i.e., the ability to attenuate laser energy), and they have not been tested for laser beam exposure. Wearing ordinary welding glasses during laser operation gives a false sense of security due to the dark lenses, but in reality, it does not prevent irreversible damage to the eyes from laser radiation.

5. Summary: One-sentence conclusion

Laser safety glasses are specific wavelength protection devices designed for laser radiation, while welding glasses are shading glasses used for arc welding – these two types of protective equipment are not interchangeable.

When using lasers, be sure to choose certified laser safety glasses that meet the following requirements:

Laser wavelength

Required OD level

Applicable safety standards

Choosing the correct protective eyewear is crucial for protecting our eye safety.