Sethi C S, Grey R H, Hart C D
The Bristol Eye Hospital, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LX.
Br J Ophthalmol. 1999 Oct;83(10):1164-7. doi: 10.1136/bjo.83.10.1164.
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.
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.
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.
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.
描述迄今为止最大规模的激光笔照射临床系列病例，记录任何长期视觉后遗症，并客观评估短暂眼部照射带来的视觉威胁。
前瞻性收集14例病例，由眼科护士进行分诊，然后转诊至眼科医生处进行全面眼科检查。无论是否需要临床随访，在照射后平均10.5个月通过电话联系所有患者，询问是否有新出现的或持续存在的症状。
14例中有11例在照射后24小时内就诊，14起事件中有5起已报警。14例中有5例记录了患眼与对侧眼相比视力下降。最常见的体征是点状上皮病变，见于14例中的5例，最常见的症状是眼部不适，14例患者中有11例报告有此症状。没有一致的视网膜检查结果。通过电话调查随访发现，两名患者佩戴了新眼镜，但在照射前未进行验光；一名患者有间歇性眼部不适；其余11例无症状。
本研究未证明短暂眼部照射激光笔光束会产生持续的长期损害作用，这让眼科界和公众感到安心。
