Laser Eye Pointers? Something to really be worried about?
November 3rd, 2007 | by Timothy Kintzel, M.D. |
A recent study published in the journal, Pediatric Emergency Care investigated the public’s concern for possible eye injury from popular laser pointers. In some places, they are restricted for sale to adults primarily for fear of inadvertent (or intentional) directing into one’s eyes and the subsequent vision damage they are thought to cause. This study was a literature review of published articles on such injuries. What was found was that injuries were rare when the exposure to the laser was transient and when they were confined to low power (class 2 and 3a) lasers, such as used in typical pointers. A quick sweep across one’s line of vision was found not to cause damage; however prolonged, direct, intentional exposure can cause visual injury. The authors reach the conclusion that when one presents with visual loss and or persistent after images (a prolonged image appearing after one turns away from a visualised object) thought to be caused by a laser pointer, the history of exposure is very important to ascertain whether such damage is likely to be caused by the laser (and urgent referral to an ophthalmologist is required). If the person has a history of prolonged exposure, especially in industrial applications, such symptoms are much more likely to be laser-induced than in the patient that presents with blurred vision and headaches after a brief or indirect exposure (such as children playing around with a pointer and shining it briefly towards their or another’s eyes). Such complaints in that setting require alternate explanations.
Reference: Ajuda S and Mello MJ, Ped Em Care (2007 Sep;23(9):669-72)
Tags: blindness, laser pointers, ophtholmology, vision, visual loss