Eye Damage from Laser Pointers

      In December 1997 the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to parents about children using laser pointers as toys. "The light energy that laser pointers can aim into the eye can be more damaging than staring directly into the sun"
      This warning applied to laser pointers which met US safety standards and carried a warning label.
      In Australia there now appears to be available low cost laser pointers which do not necessarily comply with any safety standards. These are being used by children as toys. The eye damage might be spot blindness that is not readily detectable except by an expert. As well as the risk to friends and other victims there is concern that motorists could be temporarily blinded if struck by a laser beam.


      A note from Mr. Maurits Groenenberg, Netherlands

      The tiny spot of the beam is focussed on the retina where it causes thermal injury. The doctors I consulted think that it will cure. I just finished a press release for the dutch news agency on my case.  I suffer from pain  now for more than 6 weeks and nobody knows how long this will last. I am working on an english version.In the Netherlands laserpointers are forbidden since april 97. A world wide action however is needed, since there are many countires where they are still legally available.  I was attacked by one of my pupils during my physics lesson in year 4 (of 6 years pre-university education 12-18 years dutch school system) . The school (where I started this summer) refuses to punish the boy who did it . I have talked about this with members of parliament and asked for an international ban on these laser pointers. Maybe we can start an international campaign, most people are not aware of the danger. (See Düsseldorf link for more)
      Here is a list of references provided by Maurits:
       

      • De laserpen als aanwijsstok niet aangetoond gevaarlijk voor de ogen, Van Norren, Keunen, Vos ned tijdschrift der Geneeskunde 1998 5  september 142 (36)
      • Verkoop laserpointers onmiddellijk verboden, NVS nieuws 23 jaargasng no2, mei 98, G. Eggink, RIVM Bilthoven
      • Laserpointers tegen het licht gehouden , risiko-evaluatie, rapport nr 1999/ 03 Gezondheidsraad Den Haag.Parnassusplein 5, 2511 VX Den Haag, tel : 0703407520
      • Are Laserpointers A danger to the eye? P.Hering, D Kleine, S Stry, Institut für Lasermedizin, Heinrich Heine University ,Düsseldorf, Germany http://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/WWW/MedFak/LaserMedizin/
      • Laser Pointers Endanger Retina ?! ? P.Hering, S Stry, Institute für Lasermedizin, Heinrich Heine University ,Düsseldorf, Germany  http://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/WWW/MedFak/LaserMedizin/
      • Augenschäden durch Laserpointer, presseerklärung im Rahmen der 96. Tagung der Deutschen Ophtalmologischen Gesellschaft 19-22 sep 98 Berlin http://www.dog.org/patient//pr6_98.html
      • Laserpointer können die Augen schädigen, Bundesamt fur Gesundheit, Bern, Zwitsertland http://www.admin.ch/bag
      • Princeton University Laser Safety Training Guide http://www.princeton.edu/~ehs/laserguide/section_2.htm
      • Advocacy at the State House, American Academy of Ophtalmology, sep 18, 1998
      • Praktijkgids arbeidsveiligheid 1999, ARBO , hoofdstuk 18.7 lasers
      • Br J Ophthalmol 1999 Oct;83(10):1164-1167 Laser pointers revisited: a survey of 14 patients attending casualty at theBristol Eye Hospital.
      • Sethi CS, Grey RH, Hart CD .The Bristol Eye Hospital, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LX.
      • Health Risks From The Use Of Laser Pointers, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, fact sheet 202, july 1998   http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact202.html

      From Valinda, USA, March 1999:
      I was struck in the eyes with a laser point, I think a cheaper brand.
      But since being injured I have had migrane headaches and with the
      headaches there is shooting I pain in the eye and head. Eye doctors see
      no structural damage but something happened to my head via my eyes on
      the day I had the laser point incident.  My headache expert has me on
      blood pressure and anti-depressant pills for the pain because there are
      not any migrane medicines.  I have reported this injury to the FDA, but
      I do not think they are taken the injuries from these pointers very
      serious, yet.

      There appears to be little information on the Internet about this hazard. Suggestions for links to be added to this page should be sent to Michael Paine.

      If you are concerned about the issue it is suggested that you raise it with your local Member of Parliament, who should refer that concern to the State and Federal Health Ministers.

      Links

      • FDA Press Release
      • Bosnia incident
      • Lasermaster FAQ
      • Are laser pointers a danger to the eye? Institute of Laser Medicine, University of Düsseldorf
      • Call for an international ban by Maurits Groenenberg, Netherlands
      • See how stupid people with laser pointers can be see - some irresponsible suggestions for "fun" - buried in the text is the following warning: "Never shine them in peoples eyes, you'll blind them. I really  mean it. Think about this one alot."
      • The Safe Use of Common Laser Pointers
      • Illustration of the eye.
      • BBC (1997) Eye expert challenges laser pen 'danger' - note that the main concern is with the proliferation of laser pointers that have not been shown to comply with safety standards.
      Other web sites maintained by Michael Paine
      Australian Open  Access User Group - PC tips
      Road Safety
      Astronomy and Australian Spaceguard Survey