Digital Smarts - Laser Pointers Can Cause Eye Damage

A case report in the Pediatrics journal describes four boys ages 9 to 16 who developed retinal damage caused by laser pointers. The children experienced acute, dramatic symptoms including absent, blurry or distorted vision in the center of the visual field, and three of the children had likely irreversible vision loss. Part of the issue is that pointers are not always properly labeled and may be stronger than indicated on the packaging. Researchers hope these findings will prompt pediatricians, parents and teachers to warn kids of the health risks of laser pointer devices and limit or discourage their use among children.