title: Laser pointers: toys, nuisances, or significant eye hazards?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laser pointers have been used inappropriately to harass and "dazzle" victims. Reports of retinal damage caused by pointers have also been circulated in the popular press.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information on pointer abuse was collected from the literature and through discussions with specialists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Few, if any, documented cases of permanent retinal damage caused by laser pointers could be found. For actual damage to occur, viewing, times need to exceed approximately 10 seconds. Exposures of this duration would require the person being lased to cooperate by holding fixation on the laser beam.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the risk of permanent retinal damage from a laser-pointer beam is minimal, other risks include dazzle, annoyance, and concern that a weapon-aiming device rather than a pointer is generating the laser beam.
authors.affiliation: Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, Oregon, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Yolton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Citek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmeisser
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Reichow
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Griffith
mesh_terms: D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012160:Retina / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence