Breakthrough in laser safety goggles

People working in hazardous environments and industries in India will soon have cost-effective goggles that can protect their eyes and improve efficiency.

Bengaluru-based Hind High Vacuum (HHV) has developed a technology for high power laser safety goggles made of coated glass. There are just handful of companies with this technological capability globally, said Prasanth Sakhamuri, Managing Director.

By using these goggles, people involved in handling high precision laser equipment in research and production of hazardous material and workplaces can protect their eyes from harmful exposure.

The 52-year-old HHV, specialising in developing indigenous technologies for strategic sectors, has strengths in vacuum science and technology. A team at the company’s R&D centre developed the coating technology, as a part of its ongoing ‘ Make in India’ efforts, Prashanth told

Laser Safety Goggles are available in three varieties based on the power of laser: low-power lasers need acrylic goggles, medium-power lasers need goggles made of treated glass and operating a high-power laser needs a goggle made of coated glass.

Laser is used in industry in a variety of applications, especially in medical, aerospace, defence and across the engineering sector.

Human eyes are susceptible to injury even from very low levels of laser rays. Laser emission from visible and infrared spectral ranges has the greatest potential for retinal injury as cornea and lens are transparent to those wavelengths. Hence, laser goggles form an important part of Occupational Health And Safety procedures (OSHAS). Even a diffusive reflection from metallic surface and watches, screwdriver or jewellery of the operator adds to the risk of injury, Prashanth explained.

Powerful laser is used in jobs like tissue cutting in biomedical engineering to hardest known naturally occurring substance like diamond. Since human eyes can only observe through visible light, extra attention is required while handling lasers apart from visible wavelength.

Globally, there are just a handful of companies with this expertise. “We have won a contract from one of the leaders —Procket of Germany — to supply 1,000 pairs of these coated goggles. We make the coated lens and use the indigenous technology for it. The original technology developer is a German company”, he added.