Bilateral Maculopathy After Self-Inflicted Laser Pointer Injury

TL;DR

A child suffered eye damage from a laser pointer, showing the need for awareness and regulation to prevent such injuries.

Contribution

This case highlights the ocular risks of laser pointers and emphasizes the importance of public education and regulation.

Findings

Bilateral retinal photoreceptor loss and subfoveal structural changes were observed via OCT.

Visual acuity was reduced to 0.6 in the right eye and 0.4 in the left eye.

OCT findings included reduced hyperreflectivity and retinal pigment epithelium defects.

Abstract

We present the case of an 11-year-old male with bilateral maculopathy caused by exposure to an astronomy laser pointer with an estimated power output of 50–100 mW. Symptoms began after exposure, and initial evaluation revealed a temporal pigment nevus in the left eye. Further examination identified bilateral retinal photoreceptor loss and subfoveal structural changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT), including reduced hyperreflectivity and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) defects. Visual acuity was recorded as 0.6 in the right eye and 0.4 in the left eye. Laser pointer maculopathy has been increasingly reported, especially in children, raising significant public health concerns. OCT findings commonly reveal hyperreflective outer retinal changes and RPE disruptions. Prognosis varies, ranging from partial recovery to permanent visual impairment. Preventive measures, including public education and regulation of high-powered lasers, are critical to mitigating this avoidable cause of retinal injury. This case highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis, imaging, and awareness to address the growing prevalence of laser-induced ocular injuries.

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