Choosing Laser Safety Eyewear

Not a one-size-fits-all approach

No single pair of laser safety eyewear can protect workers from all possible wavelengths. This means that there is no one size fits all approach and laser safety eyewear must be carefully selected based on the wavelengths emitted, the type of laser i.e continuous or pulsed, the actual exposure during both normal and unexpected circumstances (Standards Australia, 2022). Additionally, laser safety eyewear needs to conform to the shape of the face of the wearer. It is important to liaise with the manufacturer of the laser, the supplier of laser safety eyewear, and someone with subject matter knowledge to ensure that the appropriate eyewear is being used.

A dangerous misconception

A common misconception is that the colour of the eye protection should be the same as the colour of the laser; this rule should not be relied on as it is not always the case (Stanley & Sheehy, 2011). Instead the manufacturer of the laser will be able to advise on the output of the laser and this should be matched to the appropriate eyewear as outlined above.

PCBU and employer responsibilities

 PCBUs and employers have a responsibility to ensure that they have provided safety eyewear that gives protection appropriate for the laser. Workplaces using class 3B or class 4 lasers should utilise a laser safety officer to help oversee this process (Standards Australia, 2022). As an additional layer of protection, workers also should be appropriately trained and aware of the parameters of the laser they are using so that they can cross-check that the eyewear provides the appropriate protection (Glover & Richer, 2023). This is consistent with AS/NZS IEC 60825.14 and legislation around personal protective equipment as outlined in Regulation 45 of the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations, in addition to Regulation 122 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic) (Safework Australia, 2025; Standards Australia, 2022; Victorian Government, 2025).

A note on Australian standards

Although the Australian standards are not always legally binding, it is recommended that laser safety eyewear complies with Australian standards; this helps ensure that the personal protective equipment meets rigorous quality checks and offers sufficient protection. Due to an absence of Australian manufacturers, it can be difficult to source laser eyewear that has been certified to Australian standards. In this instance it may be reasonably practicable to source eyewear that has been certified to the European standard EN 207 which is readily available. Eyewear certified to EN 207 satisfies AS/NZS 1337.4, because the Australian standard was an identical adoption of it. Although AS/NZS 1337.4 has since been superseded by AS/NZS ISO 19818.1:2023,  ARPANSA still points providers to AS/NZS 1337.4 (ARPANSA; Standards Australia, 2011).

Nevertheless, the PCBU or employer should liaise with the manufacturer and a qualified professional to ensure that the laser safety eyewear provides adequate protection for the laser being used.  Regardless of the supplier’s claims, it is important to not just assume that all protective eyewear complies with the Australian standards. Rather, it is necessary to ask for evidence of certification, preferably from a third party. This is critical to ensure that workers are adequately protected.  If a supplier cannot provide a certificate of compliance, then this is a red flag and a sign to move on. For more information on the various laser safety standards, please refer to our page ‘Laser Safety Standards’.

Increasing complexity

Matching laser safety eyewear to the output of the laser becomes more difficult and complicated if the laser operator plans to use multiple different wavelengths in a session (Daggett et al., 2020).  The safety eyewear either needs to be rated for all the wavelengths used, or the worker will need to change eyewear during the session.  Changing of eyewear should be performed outside of the controlled area to avoid any gaps in protection. In this instance, it is important to have rigorous systems in place to ensure that the eyewear is easily distinguishable and does not get jumbled up. For information regarding the storage of laser eyewear please refer to our article ‘Storage and Maintenance of Laser Eyewear’.

Importance of a Proper Fitting Frame

Whilst not wearing protective eyewear is a contributing factor to many avoidable laser eye injuries, poorly fitting eyewear has also been implicated (Barat, 2022; Biswas & Kaliyadan, 2026; Jbara et al., 2023).  Firstly, an uncomfortable frame may result in workers being less compliant with wearing their laser safety eyewear (Barat, 2022). Secondly, there is a risk of lasers irradiating the eyes through the gap of safety eyewear (Jbara et al., 2023). Back surface reflections also need to be considered and this involves light entering from behind and reflecting off the back of the lens and irradiating the eye. It is extremely important that laser safety eyewear conforms appropriately to the face of the worker wearing it. An adequate fit can be challenging to achieve when laser safety eyewear is distributed online, often in a one-size-fits-all approach. Whilst many organisations require workers to be fit-tested for respiratory protective equipment, the importance of properly fitting laser protective eyewear may be overlooked. Regardless of the logistical complexities, PCBUs and employers have a legal obligation to ensure the personal protective equipment fits appropriately (Safework Australia, 2025).

Achieving a sound fit

To provide sufficient protection, frames need to conform to the face typically wrapping around the forehead and temples (Sutter & Schirmacher, 2001). This eliminates or minimises gaps and reduces the risk of stray radiation from entering the eyes. Side shields are also important, reducing the danger of laser radiation incident from the side. When assessing the fit of a frame, special attention should be paid to the region around the nose and cheeks, which will often show gaps if the frame is poorly fitting (Sutter & Schirmacher, 2001). Some laser safety frames will have adjustable temples which may be important in customising the fit to the individual. Other considerations need to be taken into account to accommodate spectacle wearers or the concurrent use of other personal protective equipment such as hearing protection.

Laser safety goggles should be considered as an alternative to laser safety glasses, particularly when higher-class lasers are in use. Goggles may fit more effectively, with no gaps (Sutter & Schirmacher, 2001), and have the added benefit of a strap that reduces the likelihood of the eyewear becoming loose or falling off. A disadvantage of goggles is that they can fog up, though some models include built-in ventilation to address this (Sutter & Schirmacher, 2001).

ARPANSA. Advice for providers: Lasers, IPL devices and LED phototherapy for cosmetic treatments and beauty therapy. https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/sources-radiation/more-radiation-sources/lasers-and-intense-pulsed-light-1

Barat, K. (2022). Laser safety : practical knowledge and solutions (Second edition. ed.). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/978-0-7503-5504-9

Biswas, K., & Kaliyadan, F. (2026). Ocular Complications of Cosmetic Laser Use in Patients and Treating Doctors/Estheticians: A Systematic Review of Case Reports and Case Series. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 17(3), 340–346. https://doi.org/10.4103/idoj.idoj_26_25

Daggett, C., Daggett, A., McBurney, E., & Murina, A. (2020). Laser safety: the need for protocols. Cutis, 106(2), 87–92.

Glover, C., & Richer, V. (2023). Preventing Eye Injuries From Light and Laser-Based Dermatologic Procedures: A Practical Review. Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery, 27(5), 509–515. https://doi.org/10.1177/12034754231191064

Jbara, D., Tiuseco, K., & Azar, D. (2023). Unintentional macular injury following high-energy cosmetic laser calibration. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 55(2), 159–163. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.23630

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Standards Australia. (2022). Safety of Laser Products. In Part 14: A user's guide. Standards Australia.

Stanley, C. L., & Sheehy, J. B. (2011). How to select laser protective eyewear. International Laser Safety Conference,

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