Consider the typical 50mW green (532nm) laser pointer with 1.5 mrad beam divergence:
1.5 mrad at 1 statute mile gives 1609756 mm x tan (.0015/2) x 2 = 2414 mm beam diameter [make certain your calculator is in radians mode]
Power density = (250/2414^2) x .050 W = .000002 W/sq. cm
Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) for long term exposure to a 543nm (green) laser beam = .001 W/sq. cm (reference
File:IEC60825 MPE W s.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
It may be quite annoying and distracting, but your eyes are safe from damage.
Using the above equations you can figure out where you stand for whatever your favorite worst case laser scenario is.