title: Retinal damage induced by mirror-reflected light from a laser pointer.
abstract: The safety of laser pointers is a major public health issue since class I and II laser pointers are available worldwide and used as toys by children despite several reports cautioning such use. Here we present the first case of retinal injury caused by the laser beam of a toy laser pointer operated by a school boy and directed via the rear-view mirror of a bus into the eye of the driver. This case emphasises the great importance of cautious and appropriate use of low-energy laser pointers. Laser pointers of any class should not be made available to children because they are unlikely to understand the risks of such lasers when using them in play.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Solon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thanos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Ophthalmology, Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael R R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.affiliation: Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyer zu Hörste
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter-Fritz
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000293:injuries*; D011634:Public Health; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity