J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2011 Nov;52(11):1377-1380.

A Case of Retinal Injury During a Laser Show

• Chun JW
• Jang YJ
• Lee SW

Abstract

PURPOSE
To report a case of macular injury after exposure to a high energy laser beam used in a laser show. CASE: A 19-year-old female presented 2 days after exposure to a high energy laser beam at a laser show in a night club with decreased vision in her right eye. The patient's best corrected visual acuity of the right eye was hand motion. Fundus examination reveald a retinal swelling in the macular area approximately 5 disc diameter in size and a submacular hemorrhage. Fluorescein angiography of the right eye showed marked hypofluorescence in the macular area and optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a neurosensory retinal detachment with a macular edema. Three years after exposure, the visual acuity of the right eye improved to 20/600. The fundus revealed scar and depigmented area at the macula.
CONCLUSIONS
High-energy laser devices at laser shows should be used carefully with safety education and strict control and can provoke irreversible eye damage if not managed adequately.

Keyword

Laser; Laser Show; Retinal Injury

MeSH Terms

Cicatrix
Eye
Female
Fluorescein Angiography
Hand
Hemorrhage
Humans
Macular Edema
Retinal Detachment
Retinaldehyde
Tomography, Optical Coherence
Vision, Ocular
Visual Acuity
Young Adult
Retinaldehyde

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. (A) Initial fundus photograph of the right eye, two days after exposure showed about a five disc diameter sized retinal swelling at the macula and a submacular hemorrhage. (B) Initial fluorescein angiograph of the right eye, two days after exposure to laser beam showed a marked hypofluorescence area at the macula.

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  Figure 2. Optical coherence tomograph (OCT) of the right eye, two days after exposure to laser beam. There was neurosensory retinal detachment with a macular edema.

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  Figure 3. Fundus photographs (A) One month after exposure, fundus photography revealed subretinal exudates and macular edema. (B) Three years later, fundus photography revealed a rounded, slightly irregular depigmented area with well defined margin and scar at the macula.

Reference

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