Biomaterial Database

Laser pointers: toys, nuisances, or significant eye hazards? 1999

R L Yolton, and K Citek, and E Schmeisser, and A W Reichow, and T Griffith

Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, Oregon, USA.

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.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007834	Lasers	An optical source that emits photons in a coherent beam. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) is brought about using devices that transform light of varying frequencies into a single intense, nearly nondivergent beam of monochromatic radiation. Lasers operate in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet, or X-ray regions of the spectrum.	Masers,Continuous Wave Lasers,Pulsed Lasers,Q-Switched Lasers,Continuous Wave Laser,Laser,Laser, Continuous Wave,Laser, Pulsed,Laser, Q-Switched,Lasers, Continuous Wave,Lasers, Pulsed,Lasers, Q-Switched,Maser,Pulsed Laser,Q Switched Lasers,Q-Switched Laser
D010988	Play and Playthings	Spontaneous or voluntary recreational activities pursued for enjoyment and accessories or equipment used in the activities; includes games, toys, etc.	Puppets,Toys,Play,Playthings,Plays,Plaything,Playthings and Play,Puppet,Toy
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata
D005131	Eye Injuries	Damage or trauma inflicted to the eye by external means. The concept includes both surface injuries and intraocular injuries.	Injuries, Eye,Eye Injury,Injury, Eye
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012307	Risk Factors	An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent.	Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor
D012449	Safety	Freedom from exposure to danger and protection from the occurrence or risk of injury or loss. It suggests optimal precautions in the workplace, on the street, in the home, etc., and includes personal safety as well as the safety of property.	Safeties
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D014486	United States Food and Drug Administration	An agency of the PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE concerned with the overall planning, promoting, and administering of programs pertaining to maintaining standards of quality of foods, drugs, therapeutic devices, etc.	Food and Drug Administration (U.S.),USFDA,Food and Drug Administration,United States Food, Drug Administration