Laser Pointer Also Can Ruin Retina Eye

Laser pointers are often used to help someone when presenting something. But this laser should not be directed into the eye, because it can cause retinal damage.

This was stated by a doctor from Liverpool Hospital and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. This condition is based on the medical staff conduct operations against a teenager whose eyes were exposed to laser light to cause burns and damage the retina. Examination conducted on adolescents shows the scotomas or black spots in vision.

Although teenagers are still able to have normal vision, but he is at risk of developing problems later in life as a result of damage to the retina.

"Injuries like this are usually caused when a person persistently rubbing his eyes after the eye exposed to laser light," said a spokeswoman from the Health Protection Agency, as quoted by the BBC on Wednesday (16/06/2010).

Experts have realized that this retinal damage that can cause abnormal vision as a result of high power laser pointer. If misused by someone's eyes shone even in a matter of seconds, it can cause damage to the retina.

"The laser pointer is like cheating. At first glance this device seems secure, but it can be very dangerous because it has strong light beam so that the intensity is high," said Barbara McLaughlan, campaigns manager of the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Research studies on this subject have been published in the British Medical Journal.

Therefore you should never highlight the laser beam toward the eye although it is written that the laser has only milliwatts of power alone. This is because the laser has a focal nature of light, monochromatic and coherent (unidirectional and mutually reinforcing).