Journal Article
Review
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Laser pointers: toys, nuisances, or significant eye hazards?

BACKGROUND: Laser pointers have been used inappropriately to harass and "dazzle" victims. Reports of retinal damage caused by pointers have also been circulated in the popular press.

METHODS: Information on pointer abuse was collected from the literature and through discussions with specialists.

RESULTS: Few, if any, documented cases of permanent retinal damage caused by laser pointers could be found. For actual damage to occur, viewing, times need to exceed approximately 10 seconds. Exposures of this duration would require the person being lased to cooperate by holding fixation on the laser beam.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the risk of permanent retinal damage from a laser-pointer beam is minimal, other risks include dazzle, annoyance, and concern that a weapon-aiming device rather than a pointer is generating the laser beam.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

Related Resources

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app