Laser pens or laser pointers can be useful for giving presentations or maybe circling a cluster of stars while stargazing at the night sky. But one thing you must never do, is aim a laser pen at someone’s face / eyes and you should never look into the beam as they can cause serious damage to your eyes.
One of our young patients had to learn the hard way, after someone pointed a laser pen at his eye, he now has no detail vision in his eye. Attached you can see an OCT scan of the macula area, the damage to the receptors is highlighted by circle.
If using a laser pen there is an etiquette we should all be aware of:
- never point a laser pen at planes, trains, boats or cars
- do not bring laser pens to concerts or sporting events
- never point a laser pen at humans or animals
- avoid skin contact for prolonged periods of time
When using a laser pen for presentations:
- never point a laser pen at another person, especially their face
- never, under any circumstances, look directly into the laser beam
- always be aware of reflective surfaces
- do not let other people use your laser pen, unless they are fully aware of the dangers
When using a laser pen for stargazing:
- circle objects rather than pointing
- be aware that the beam doesn’t end
- hold the pen over your head to avoid