Scars of an old story: Laser pointer injury

Abstract

A 12-year-old boy presented to us with complaints of nonprogressive diminution of vision and seeing a black spot at the center of his visual field in his right eye following exposure to a red laser pointer accidentally, while playing, 2 years ago. On examination, his best-corrected visual acuity was 6/12 OD and 6/6 OS. His anterior segment examination was clinically normal. Fundus examination revealed a well-defined, pigmented, slightly elevated, hypoautofluorescent scar involving the nasal parafoveal region of the macula in his right eye. His left fundus appeared normal. Optical coherence tomography (swept source) imaging showed an irregular, raised, hyperreflective inner layer with back-shadowing in the parafoveal region corresponding to the pigmented scar seen in his right eye. Laser pointer injuries are fairly common but under-reported health hazard.

Keywords

• laser pointer
• pediatric
• retinal thermal injury