What Laser Safety Glasses Do I Need for a 1060–1080 nm Laser?

Lasers operating in the 1060–1080 nm range are common in industrial, manufacturing, research, and medical applications.

This wavelength range includes many:

When selecting laser safety glasses for these systems, two of the most important specifications are:

1. Does the eyewear provide protection at the actual operating wavelength?

2. Does it provide sufficient optical density (OD) at that wavelength?

Do not select laser safety glasses simply because the equipment is described as a fiber laser, YAG laser, or infrared laser.

Verify the actual wavelength specified by the manufacturer.

Common wavelengths in this region include:

A laser safety filter must provide the required protection at the actual operating wavelength or wavelengths.

For example, eyewear rated through 1070 nm should not automatically be assumed to provide the same protection at 1080 nm.

Always compare the laser wavelength with the eyewear's published wavelength protection range.

Matching the wavelength is only the first step.

The eyewear must also provide sufficient optical density (OD). We've prepared this video for how to read optical density notation:
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Optical density describes how strongly the filter attenuates laser radiation.

For example:

Higher OD provides greater attenuation at the specified wavelength.

However, this does not mean that you should simply select the highest OD available.

The required OD should be determined as part of the laser hazard evaluation based on the reasonably foreseeable worst-case exposure conditions.

Suppose your hazard evaluation determines that you require:

Minimum OD 4.5 @ 1060–1080 nm

The selected eyewear should provide at least OD 4.5 throughout that entire wavelength range.

For example:

OD 5+ @ 855–1085 nm

would meet the stated wavelength and OD requirement because the entire 1060–1080 nm range falls within the specified protection band and the stated OD exceeds 4.5.

By contrast, eyewear providing:

OD 7+ @ 1064 nm only

would not, from that specification alone, establish OD 4.5 protection throughout the entire 1060–1080 nm range.

This is why both OD and wavelength range need to be read together.

A common question is:

“I have a 2,000 W fiber laser. What OD glasses do I need?”

The laser's power is important information, but wattage alone does not establish the required OD.

The hazard evaluation can depend on factors such as:

Two lasers operating at the same wavelength and power can potentially present different exposure conditions depending on how they are configured and used.

Lasers in the 1060–1080 nm range may operate as continuous-wave (CW), pulsed, or ultrafast systems.

This distinction can matter when evaluating laser hazards.

A CW laser delivers energy continuously, while a pulsed laser delivers energy in individual pulses. Pulsed systems may require consideration of parameters such as:

For this reason, the same wavelength does not necessarily mean two laser systems have the same eyewear requirements.

Radiation around 1060–1080 nm is near-infrared and invisible to the human eye.

Unlike longer-wave infrared radiation such as the approximately 10,600 nm output of many CO₂ lasers, near-infrared radiation in the 1060–1080 nm range can pass through the front structures of the eye and reach the retina.

The eye can focus this radiation onto a very small area of retinal tissue.

At the same time, because the beam is invisible, there is no reliable visible indication of exposure.

This is one reason appropriate engineering controls and properly selected laser safety eyewear are important when hazardous radiation in this wavelength range is accessible.

Many industrial fiber laser systems use a separate visible aiming or guide beam.

For example, you may see a red dot or visible beam while the primary operating laser is around 1070 nm.

These are different wavelengths.

Laser safety eyewear should be evaluated for the hazardous wavelengths associated with the actual system—not simply the visible aiming beam.

For more information, see Operating Beam vs. Aiming Beam: What's the Difference?

Not for determining whether the eyewear provides the required laser protection.

Laser safety glasses for 1060–1080 nm can have different visible colors depending on the filter technology and the other wavelengths being attenuated.

Do not select eyewear because one pair looks darker or because it is a particular color.

Instead, evaluate:

Wavelength coverage + required OD + filter specifications

Once those requirements have been satisfied, factors such as visible light transmission, color recognition, fit, coverage, and comfort can help distinguish between appropriate eyewear options.

The same selection principles apply.

If the laser operates specifically at 1064 nm, the eyewear must provide protection at 1064 nm and sufficient OD for the reasonably foreseeable worst-case exposure conditions.

You do not necessarily need eyewear covering the entire 1060–1080 nm range unless your laser system or application requires protection throughout that range.

This distinction is important:

Protect for the wavelength or wavelengths actually requiring protection—not simply the broad category the laser belongs to.

If your manufacturer, LSO, or laser hazard evaluation has already established the required wavelength range and OD, selecting eyewear becomes considerably simpler.

For example:

Required: OD 4.5+ @ 1060–1080 nm

Look for eyewear whose published specification provides at least that OD across the entire required wavelength range.

If the filter is specified:

OD 5+ @ 855–1085 nm

then the stated specification exceeds OD 4.5 throughout 1060–1080 nm.

The filter's complete specifications should still be reviewed for the application.

When selecting laser safety glasses for a laser operating between 1060 and 1080 nm, do not select eyewear based solely on the fact that it is a:

Fiber laser, Nd:YAG laser, Class 4 laser, or a certain wattage.

Start with:

Actual wavelength(s) → Operating & reasonably foreseeable worst-case exposure conditions → Required OD → Appropriate eyewear

The eyewear must provide sufficient optical density at every wavelength requiring protection.