AIMS: The largest clinical series of laser pointer exposures to date is described, to document any long term visual sequelae and assess objectively the visual threat from transient ocular exposure. METHODS: 14 cases were collected prospectively and triaged by ophthalmic nurses before referral to an ophthalmologist for a complete ophthalmic examination. Regardless of the need for clinical follow up, all patients were contacted by telephone at a mean interval of 10.5 months following exposure to inquire about new or persisting symptoms. RESULTS: 11/14 cases presented within 24 hours of exposure and 5/14 incidents were reported to the police. Reduced acuity in the affected eye compared with the contralateral were documented in 5/14 cases. The commonest physical sign was a punctate epitheliopathy, seen in 5/14 cases, and the commonest symptom was ocular discomfort, reported by 11/14 patients. There were no consistent retinal findings. Follow up by telephone survey revealed that two patients were wearing new glasses, but had not been refracted before the exposure; one had intermittent ocular discomfort; the remaining 11 were asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: This study is reassuring to the ophthalmology community and the general public in failing to demonstrate consistent, long term damaging effects of transient ocular exposure to laser pointer beams.
AIMS: The largest clinical series of laser pointer exposures to date is described, to document any long term visual sequelae and assess objectively the visual threat from transient ocular exposure. METHODS: 14 cases were collected prospectively and triaged by ophthalmic nurses before referral to an ophthalmologist for a complete ophthalmic examination. Regardless of the need for clinical follow up, all patients were contacted by telephone at a mean interval of 10.5 months following exposure to inquire about new or persisting symptoms. RESULTS: 11/14 cases presented within 24 hours of exposure and 5/14 incidents were reported to the police. Reduced acuity in the affected eye compared with the contralateral were documented in 5/14 cases. The commonest physical sign was a punctate epitheliopathy, seen in 5/14 cases, and the commonest symptom was ocular discomfort, reported by 11/14 patients. There were no consistent retinal findings. Follow up by telephone survey revealed that two patients were wearing new glasses, but had not been refracted before the exposure; one had intermittent ocular discomfort; the remaining 11 were asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: This study is reassuring to the ophthalmology community and the general public in failing to demonstrate consistent, long term damaging effects of transient ocular exposure to laser pointer beams.
Authors: Lijuan Zhang; Andrew Zheng; Hongping Nie; Kavita V Bhavsar; Yu Xu; David H Sliney; Stephen L Trokel; Stephen H Tsang Journal: Ophthalmic Genet Date: 2016 Impact factor: 1.803
Authors: Johannes Birtel; Wolf M Harmening; Tim U Krohne; Frank G Holz; Peter Charbel Issa; Philipp Herrmann Journal: Dtsch Arztebl Int Date: 2017-12-08 Impact factor: 5.594
Authors: Kiran Turaka; J Shepard Bryan; Alan J Gordon; Rahul Reddy; Henry M Kwong; Clive H Sell Journal: Int Ophthalmol Date: 2012-04-01 Impact factor: 2.031
Authors: Francesca Amoroso; Eric H Souied; Meryem Filali Ansary; Polina Astroz; Alexandra Mouallem-Bézière; Alexandre Pedinielli; Alexandra Miere Journal: Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep Date: 2020-06-02