@article{ref1,
title="Laser pointers revisited: a survey of 14 patients attending casualty at the Bristol Eye Hospital",
journal="British journal of ophthalmology",
year="1999",
author="Sethi, C. S. and Grey, R. H. and Hart, C. D.",
volume="83",
number="10",
pages="1164-1167",
abstract="AIMS: The largest clinical series of laser pointer exposures to date is described, to document any long term visual sequelae and assess objectively the visual threat from transient ocular exposure. METHODS: 14 cases were collected prospectively and triaged by ophthalmic nurses before referral to an ophthalmologist for a complete ophthalmic examination. Regardless of the need for clinical follow up, all patients were contacted by telephone at a mean interval of 10.5 months following exposure to inquire about new or persisting symptoms. RESULTS: 11/14 cases presented within 24 hours of exposure and 5/14 incidents were reported to the police. Reduced acuity in the affected eye compared with the contralateral were documented in 5/14 cases. The commonest physical sign was a punctate epitheliopathy, seen in 5/14 cases, and the commonest symptom was ocular discomfort, reported by 11/14 patients. There were no consistent retinal findings. Follow up by telephone survey revealed that two patients were wearing new glasses, but had not been refracted before the exposure; one had intermittent ocular discomfort; the remaining 11 were asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: This study is reassuring to the ophthalmology community and the general public in failing to demonstrate consistent, long term damaging effects of transient ocular exposure to laser pointer beams.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0007-1161",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}