Abstract
In recent years, an increasing incidence of laser pointer-associated retinal injuries
has been observed, likely due to easy access to incorrectly classified laser pointers,
their labelling as toys, and lack of awareness concerning the associated risk. Laser
pointer exposure can lead to irreversible retinal damage and associated vision loss,
depending on the wavelength, radiation power, duration of exposure, localization,
and spot size. Pronounced retinal laser damage is especially seen in children and
teenagers. The structural appearance of retinal laser pointer damage varies and, in
some cases, may be a diagnostic challenge. Besides often subtle findings on optical
coherence tomography examination, characteristic alterations on near-infrared autofluorescence
imaging may be valuable for the diagnosis of retinal laser pointer injuries and for
differentiating other retinal lesions with similar appearance. The increase in laser
pointer injuries indicates that regulatory
actions and increased public awareness are required regarding the dangers of
laser pointers.
Key words
laser pointer - retina - imaging - maculopathy - autofluorescence
