We are often asked if IPL glasses can be used with lasers and vice versa.

To best answer this it is useful to understand the fundamental difference between IPL systems and lasers.  IPL Intense Pulsed Light) deliver energy across a very broad range of wavelengths from visible to infrared typically from around 400nm to 1100nm.  Lasers on the other hand deliver all their energy at a very specific wavelength such as 1064nm. 

Safety glasses used for lasers and IPL are designed to cut down specific wavelengths or band of wavelengths.  Laser safety glasses need to cut down a very narrow wavelength range such as 1064nm by a very high level such as 10 million times (ie OD 7) whereas IPL safety glasses need to cut down a very broad range such as 400 to 1100nm with a low level of attenuation such as 20X or 30X. If IPL glasses cut down the full range with a very high level this would cut out the visible spectrum which goes from 400-700nm so would be impractically dark to look through.

This is the reason why laser safety glasses and IPL safety glasses are fundamentally different and are not suitable to switch between machines.

If you hve any questions or would like further information feel free to contact one of our laser safety experts on 1300 411 337 or email us at info@dioptika.com