Which statement about Class 2 lasers is true?

Which statement about Class 2 lasers is true?

• A. They are capable of causing immediate eye damage without blinking
• B. They are low-power visible lasers; normally not strong enough to damage eyes because of blinking
• C. They emit ultraviolet radiation
• D. They are invisible

Answer: (B)

Class 2 lasers are low-power and visible, and their eye hazard is largely prevented by the body's natural blink reflex. Because the beam is visible, you can see it and usually blink within a fraction of a second, which limits how long your eye is exposed. The power level is typically enough to be safe for momentary viewing, so under ordinary circumstances a brief direct look isn’t likely to cause eye damage. That’s why the statement describing them as low-power visible lasers and normally not strong enough to damage eyes because of blinking fits best. They don’t emit ultraviolet radiation, and they are not invisible—so those details aren’t true for Class 2. Prolonged, deliberate viewing or exposure through optical devices could still pose a risk, but the standard Class 2 rule relies on the blink reflex providing protection for typical exposure.

Class 2 lasers are low-power and visible, and their eye hazard is largely prevented by the body's natural blink reflex. Because the beam is visible, you can see it and usually blink within a fraction of a second, which limits how long your eye is exposed. The power level is typically enough to be safe for momentary viewing, so under ordinary circumstances a brief direct look isn’t likely to cause eye damage. That’s why the statement describing them as low-power visible lasers and normally not strong enough to damage eyes because of blinking fits best.

They don’t emit ultraviolet radiation, and they are not invisible—so those details aren’t true for Class 2. Prolonged, deliberate viewing or exposure through optical devices could still pose a risk, but the standard Class 2 rule relies on the blink reflex providing protection for typical exposure.