[dread78645]

Virtually all lasers that will cause anything remotely like blinding are invisible to the human eye.

I worked for Kodak-Estek early 1990s setting up (relatively) low power lasers for semiconductor inspection stations. The 10mW HeNe and 75mW Ar lasers we used are certainly in the visible spectrum. And they would take your vision out for a couple of minutes (dazzled) if you managed to get a screwdriver or a wrench into the beam and got flashed.
Even ten years later, I still have "blank spots" where I have to shift my head slightly to get something into view.

[Dan Evans]

Even ten years later, I still have "blank spots" where I have to shift my head slightly to get something into view.

Were you wearing protective goggles?