Ocular injuries from accidental laser exposure

This report presents 29 cases of ocular injury (31 eyes) caused by accidental laser exposure. Twenty-eight eyes were injured during laser adjustment and alignment. Nineteen eyes were damaged by Q-switched lasers at a wavelength of 1064 nm. Macula damage occurred in 25 eyes. During the early phase after injury, there were different degrees of retinal coagulation, edema or hemorrhage in exposed spots and there occurred immediate reduction of visual acuity. Effusion of blood and exudate was absorbed in most injured eyes under treatment lasting several weeks; meanwhile, gray-white scars appeared. Macular holes appeared in seven cases a week after injury, thus extending the course of the injury. Nine cases (10 eyes) were followed-up for 4-10 y, during which time the condition of eight cases (nine eyes) remained stable. The causes of the laser accidents and the relationship between the damage effects and exposure doses were analyzed.