Can reflected light from a laser pointer damage your eyes?

It depends. The degree of damage depends on how much light reaches the back of the eye, the color of the laser, and how long the exposure is. Many laser pointers emit more than their label rating of 5 mW. read more

Second, the light bulb gives light in all directions so you only see a small part of the whole. As you move away from the bulb, you see a quarter of the light every time the distance is doubled. A laser gives light in one small beam. If it gets into the eye, you receive all the laser's energy, not just a fraction. read more

Laser pointers concentrate the light which can lead to a greater risk of eye damage. Another factor to consider is how the eye will process the light. Laser pointers are often colored and the eye is more sensitive to certain colors of light than others. read more