Laser pointer-induced macular injury.

OBJECTIVE

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.