Laser-pointer risk negligible say researchers

17 Jun 2002

The risk of retinal damage caused by class 3A laser pointers is negligible, claim researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, US.

Dennis Robertson and co-workers tested three different laser pointers on three patients. Each person was exposed to a 1, 2 or 5 mW pointer for up to 15 min. Their retinas showed some slight abnormalities after exposure, but no signs of any significant damage to the retina, cornea or lens.

Robertson wrote in the December 2000 issue of the journal Archives of Ophthalmology: "The risk to the human eye from transient exposure to light from commercially available class 3A laser pointers that have powers of 1, 2 and 5 mW seems negligible."

He adds that the potential for the pointers to cause eye damage has been exaggerated. However, he also warns that more powerful devices could pose a more significant risk.