ROCHESTER, Minn., May 9 (UPI) -- Ophthalmologists at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., say commercially available Class 3A green laser pointers can damage human eyes.
Ophthalmologist Dennis Robertson said in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology that the lasers can cause visible damage to the eye's retina with exposures as short as 60 seconds.
Robertson conducted tests with a green laser pointer directed at the retina of an eye scheduled for removal. The laser damaged the pigment layer of the retina, but it did not damage the visual function of the patient's eye. However, Robertson said he believes longer exposures could harm vision, and the effects could be worsened with higher-powered green laser pointers.
"With the use of laser pointers that are more powerful than five milliwatts, there would likely be damage to the actual vision," he said. "Functional damage could occur within seconds."
Robertson advised green laser pointers to exercise caution.
"Green laser pointers are not a public health hazard at this time, but something people should be aware of," he said. "I'm raising concerns that people should be cautious when using green laser pointers not to point them at someone's eye or face. It's like how you use your knife -- carefully."
