Damage From Laser Beams

According to a new report, powerful lasers that are easily purchased online pose a serious danger to vision.

Doctors from the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, report on the case of a nine-year-old boy who showed up at their hospital after being blinded by an adult playing with a handheld laser.

The high-power laser had passed through the boy's eye lenses and burst the blood vessels in the back of his eyes.

A laser, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a "powerful, targeted beam of electromagnetic radiation that is used in many products, from music players and printers to eye-surgery tools."

Unless they have protective goggles, people are advised to stay away from using laser beams and gadgets even if they are labeled as safe.

Dr. Cynthia Toth is a professor of ophthalmology and biomedical engineering at Duke. She also has a long history of studying and working with lasers. Toth said "This was a larger device that was sold as some toy, but it's a dangerous weapon.”

People who work with lasers should wear protective goggles, she said. "Different types of lasers require specific goggles for maximum protection."

For more information you can read the original article by Andrew M Seaman published on Reuters.

If you’re want to confirm that you or anybody in your family has not damaged their eyes due to unsupervised or unprotected use of lasers, then drop in at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore®, Winter Park, Florida for a comprehensive eye exam by an on-site Independent Doctor of Optometry.  You can schedule an appointment online or just walk in to your nearest store. Just give us 15 to 20 minutes to complete the necessary paperwork before your appointment.