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Laser pointer-induced macular injury
Purpose:
To report a patient with a macular injury caused by a laser pointing device.
Methods:
Case report. A healthy 34-year-old man was examined 2 days after he deliberately gazed into the beam of a laser-pointing device with his left eye for an estimated 30 to 60 seconds. His uncorrected visual acuity in each eye was 20/20. He reported a transient central scotoma in the left eye and headache after laser exposure.
Results:
Both eyes were unremarkable except for a focal retinal pigment epithelial disturbance at the nasal edge of the fovea in the left eye. Fundus fluorescein angiography demonstrated window- defect type hyperfluoresence in the same location.
Conclusions:
Laser-pointing devices may cause macular injury when used inappropriately. Conformance with consumer safety recommendations should minimize potential hazards.