Which color of light is considered the most hazardous to the eyes from lasers?

The most hazardous color of light emitted by lasers is green light, particularly at wavelengths around 532 nanometers. This is primarily due to several factors related to human vision and laser interaction with the eye. Green light is well within the visible range and our eyes are particularly sensitive to it. Because of this heightened sensitivity, green lasers can cause more intense perceptions of brightness.

Additionally, green light falls at a wavelength that can be absorbed efficiently by the photoreceptors in the retina, leading to potential damage. The maximum sensitivity of the human eye is around 555 nm, which is very close to the wavelength of green lasers. As a result, exposure to green light lasers not only poses a risk of retinal injury but also makes it more difficult for individuals to blink or look away in response to bright stimuli, increasing the duration of exposure.

Infrared light (though it can be hazardous) is less visible to the human eye, which does not trigger a response to the same extent as visible wavelengths. While red light and blue light can also present safety concerns, their levels of perceived brightness and the specific absorption characteristics by eye tissues do not make them as inherently dangerous as green laser light.