Therefore, when the laser hits the camera, it is as if it burned an area of the sensor, causing it to stop working in the same way. It is worth mentioning that the damage is permanent and occurs when it hits regardless of whether the camera is turned off.
Likewise, the affectation can be both in a closed and open space and you should also be careful of mirrors or areas where the laser can be reflected, since it is equally harmful if the light comes from a direct source or from a bounce.
The distance between the laser and the sensor of your camera is another element to take into consideration, since the further away you are, the less dangerous the light will be. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the optical zoom, as it increases the risk of damaging the device.
And you may wonder if the damage is significant. Well, that will depend on each case and the level of exposure they had to the laser. In some you will only see a few red dots on each image, but in other situations the impact will be such that the image will be completely messed up.