title: Thermal macular injury from a 154 mW green laser pointer.
abstract: We report a case of accidental thermal injury due to improper use of a laser pointer obtained outside of the United States. A 13-year-old received a laser pointer as a gift and looked at a reflection of the beam. The patient underwent full ophthalmologic examination with fundus photography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography. Visual acuity in the left eye was 20/100 at presentation. Fundus examination and ancillary tests were consistent with thermal macular injury. The laser pointer was analyzed and found to be a green diode laser with average power output of 154 mW.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Electronic address: melim9048@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suelzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Associated Vitreoretinal and Uveitis Consultants, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Ramana S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Moorthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Gautam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vemuri
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D001284:Atrophy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology*; D012607:Scotoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone