StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Can accidentally staring into the light emitted by a laser or optical mouse cause damage ? If a short expouser is safe for adults then what about small children ? They might look into the glowy thingy for extended periods if it catches their attention.

Brief, accidental glances at the red light laser light in computer mice shouldn't be harmful. At most, you'll get a temporary "dazzle" like that induced by a camera flash. Children's eyes are neither more or less vulnerable than adults'.

However, prolonged staring into any laser is not a good habit to acquire.

Laser mice and mice that have the light on the bottom instead of the ball are two different things, right? If so, why not use the ones with a regular light on the bottom? They work perfectly fine. I know this isn't really related to whether they are safe or not, but it is related to laser mice.

Optical mice just use a red LED; it's dazzlingly bright, but I don't think it can cause actual harm. So far as I know, laser mice all use Class 1 lasers, which by definition you can shine directly into your eyes all day long and not harm anything.

Ah, thanks for clarifying that.