A comprehensive resource for safe and responsible laser use

Canada: Iridian announces new anti-laser protection glasses

A supplier of laser protective eyewear announced June 21 2013 a new line of glasses designed specifically for pilots.

The LaseReflect Aviator LRG10 glasses are said to mitigate the effects of laser illumination incidents. They reflect more than 99% of 532 nanometer green laser light, the most common color in laser attacks. (According to FAA statistics, about 95% of reported incidents in recent years have involved green light.) They also reflect near-infrared light at 1064 nm, which often is a byproduct of green lasers that are not manufactured with adequate IR-blocking filters. The cost is USD $299.

Custom LaseReflect Aviator glasses are available for specific colors and powers, including multiple wavelengths in a single pair of glasses. For example, blue (405 nm and 445 nm) and red (650 nm) light can also be reflected by the glasses.
Iridian states that LaseReflect can be used in low-light situations and with night-vision systems. Between each color reflected, there is over 80% transmittance of the non-laser wavelengths, as shown in the Transmittance chart below.

Iridian spectral chart with UV and IR 450w


From an Iridian press release, reprinted below. Additional information from Iridian is at their LaseReflect web page.



Ottawa, Canada, June 21, 2013 – Airline pilots, train conductors, and law enforcement personnel, have increasingly come under attack from the use of laser pointers which are now widely available and more powerful than ever. The glare caused from these attacks can cause dangerous distractions or even temporary blindness. Today Iridian Spectral Technologies Ltd. (Iridian), a leading global supplier of optical filter solutions, announces the availability of LaseReflect™ LRG10 glasses (http://tinyurl.com/iridian-LaseReflect)to mitigate the effects of these attacks.

Iridian’s multi-layer dielectric thin-film solutions provide high transmittance with deep, narrow notches to maximize laser reflection while minimizing the impact on light levels and color recognition for the remainder of the visible spectral region. LaseReflect™ LRG10 are designed to provide >99% reflection of the most commonly used Green (532 nm) laser pointer with additional reflection of the potentially hazardous, high power near-IR (NIR, 1064 nm) band that is often present as well. These glasses are designed to reduce glare over a field of view for angles of incidence of 0º to 20º, are manufactured on durable polycarbonate plastic, and are available for purchase online for $299 (USD).

High transmission between the reflected bands, including in the NIR, allows these glasses to be used in low-light conditions and they can be compatible with night-vision systems. Performance can be customized to meet specific optical or physical requirements including multiple wavelengths in a single set of glasses; e.g. Blue (wavelengths 405 nm and 445 nm), Green (532 nm), Red (650 nm), and near-IR (NIR, 1064 nm). Iridian works together with our customers to develop optical filter solutions optimized for both technical functionality and commercial success.

Iridian Spectral Technologies Ltd (Iridian) – Ottawa, ON, Canada – www.iridian.ca – Iridian is a diversified optical filter manufacturer that is an international leader in filter design and manufacture especially for application in the fields of fiber optic communications, optical spectroscopy, 3D entertainment, and in aerospace. Iridian was ranked as one of the top 150 high technology companies in Canada in the 2011 and 2012 Branham300 rankings and won the 2010 Canada Export Achievement Award for the province of Ontario sponsored by Profit magazine together with Export Development Corporation (EDC). Iridian is a global supplier with distributors in many countries particularly in Asia.
Follow us on Twitter @IridianSpectral