A Case of Green Laser Pointer Injury to the Macula

Martha Kim; Ji Won Kwon; Young Keun Han

doi:10.3341/jkos.2008.49.4.681

Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.49(4) > 1008249

Go to TopGo to Top Go to BottomGo to Bottom

TOOLS

Kim, Kwon, and Han: A Case of Green Laser Pointer Injury to the Macula

Original Article

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2008;49(4):681-684.

Published online: 7 September 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2008.49.4.681

A Case of Green Laser Pointer Injury to the Macula

Martha Kim, M.D.¹, Ji Won Kwon, M.D.^1,², Young Keun Han, M.D.^1,³

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

²Seoul National University Hospital Health Care System Gangnam Center, Healthcare Reaserch Institute, Seoul, Korea

³Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Address reprint requests to Young Keun Han, M.D. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital #31-1 Boramae-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-707, Korea Tel: 82-2-840-2210, Fax: 82-2-831-0714, E-mail: eye129@paran.com

Received 22 June 2007 Accepted 10 October 2007

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

We report a case of macular injury by accidental exposure to a green laser pointer.

Case summary

A 25-year-old man had an acute reduction of visual acuity in his right eye two years ago after accidental exposure to a green laser pointer for a few seconds. The patient's best corrected visual acuity was counting fingers in his right eye. Fundus examination and optical coherence tomography showed a macular hole and a linear retinal scar in his right eye.

Conclusions

Green laser pointers may cause macular damage after exposure of just a few seconds, which can lead to irreversible reduction of visual acuity.

Keywords: Green laser pointer, Macular injury

References

1. Mainster MA. Blinded by the light‐ not! Arch Ophthalmol. 1999; 117:1547–8.

2. Yolton RL, Citek K, Schmeisser E, et al. Laser pointers: toys, nuisances, or significant eye hazards? J Am Optom Assoc. 1999; 70:285–9.

3. Abbasi K. UK bans powerful laser pointers. BMJ. 1997; 315:1253.

4. Robertson DM, McLaren JW, Salomao DR, Link TP. Retinopathy from a green laser pointer: a clinicopathologic study. Arch Ophthalmol. 2005; 123:629–33.

5. Namgung M, Park JS, Choi YI. A Case of Nd:YAG laser injury to the macula. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 2004; 45:1756–60.

6. Sell CH, Bryan JS. Maculopathy from handheld diode laser pointer. Arch Ophthalmol. 1999; 117:1557–8.

7. Zamir E, Kaiserman I, Chowers I. Laser pointer maculopathy. Am J Ophthalmol. 1999; 127:728–9.

8. Robertson DM, Lim TH, Salomao DR, et al. Laser pointers and the human eye: a clinicopathologic study. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000; 118:1686–91.

9. Mainster MA. Wavelength selection in macular photocoagulation. Tissue optics, thermal effects, and laser systems. Ophthalmology. 1986; 93:952–8.

10. Alhalel A, Glovinsky Y, Treister G, et al. Long‐ term follow up of accidental parafoveal laser burns. Retina. 1993; 13:152–4.

11. Mainster MA, Timberlake GT, Warren KA, et al. Pointers on laser pointers. Ophthalmology. 1997; 104:1213–4.

12. Ham WT Jr, Geeraets WJ, Mueller HA, et al. Retinal burn thresholds for the helium‐ neon laser in the rhesus monkey. Arch Ophthalmol. 1970; 84:797–809.

Figure 1.

Fundus photograph shows 1.5 optic disc diameter-sized parafoveal retinal scar with temporally and superiorly extended linear retinal scars (A). Fluorescein angiography shows hyperfluorescence at the margin of the lesions and hypofluorescence in the lesion on the fovea and parafoveal area with superior and temporal lineal extensions (B).

Figure 2.

Optical coherence tomography shows full‐ thickness macular hole (A) with adjacent detachment and scar formation (B).

TOOLS

Similar articles