Laser pointers revisited: a survey of 14 patients attending casualty at the Bristol Eye Hospital

Aims-The largest clinical series of laser pointer exposures to date is desc ribed, 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 nur ses before referral to an ophthalmologist for a complete ophthalmic examina tion. Regardless of the need for clinical follow up, all patients were cont acted 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 incident s were reported to the police. Reduced acuity in the affected eye compared with the contralateral were documented in 5/14 cases. The commonest physica l 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 c onsistent retinal findings. Follow up by telephone survey revealed that two patients were wearing new glasses, but had not been refracted before the e xposure; one had intermittent ocular discomfort; the remaining 11 were asym ptomatic. Conclusions-This study is reassuring to the ophthalmology community and the general public in failing to demonstrate consistent, long term damaging ef fects of transient ocular exposure to laser pointer beams.