A source providing a nominal
hazard that could cause ocular damage within a given range from the source, such as a first
laser, is mitigated by an optical
hazard avoidance device, such as a second
laser, that stimulates voluntary, involuntary, or both voluntary and involuntary responses, either physiological or behavioral or both physiological and behavioral, within one or more
hazard zones, such as by inducing
gaze aversion within the viewer. The optical
hazard avoidance device may include one or more
interlocking devices or other devices for interrupting the firing of the source. For example, a
visible laser beam induces
gaze aversion,
pupil contraction or a combination of
gaze aversion and
pupil contraction, reducing the
dose rate or
exposure of the
ocular tissue to damaging
radiation from a
primary source, which may be combined with a motion sensor or human
face detection device. In one example, the
primary source is a UV Raman
detector and the
visible laser beam is selected to induce gaze aversion.