MACULAR BURN CAUSED BY A TOY LASER POINTER IN AN ADOLESCENT (CLINICAL CASE)
Keywords:
laser pointer, macular burn, laser-induced maculopathy, retinal injury, optical coherence tomography, central scotoma, adolescentAbstract
Purpose – to present a case of macular burn caused by exposure to a handheld laser pointer in an adolescent patient and to emphasize the retinal hazards of these devices in pediatric and adolescent age groups. This study was conducted as a retrospective case report. Visual acuity assessment, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundus examination, Amsler grid testing, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed.
A 16-year-old male patient presented with complaints of central scotoma, a dark spot, and visual distortion in the right eye. According to the history, the patient exposed his right eye to a handheld laser pointer of unknown power from an approximate distance of 5 cm for 2-3 seconds. Ophthalmologic examination was performed approximately one week after the incident. Best-corrected visual acuity was 1.0 in both eyes; however, central distortion was detected on the Amsler grid test. Fundus examination revealed a localized lesion in the macular region, and HD-OCT demonstrated a subfoveal cystoid space with localized disruption of the retinal layers.
Based on an individualized clinical approach, the patient was treated with a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, with dynamic OCT monitoring. After three weeks of follow-up, visual distortion regressed, the Amsler grid test became negative, and partial restoration of the macular structure was observed on OCT. Nevertheless, a small residual scar remained in the macular region. Since there is no standardized treatment protocol for laser- induced maculopathy, it is not possible to state with certainty that the clinical improvement was solely related to the applied treatment.
Conclusion
Handheld laser pointers may cause macular injury even after short-term exposure. Restricting the use of these devices as toys among children and adolescents, educating parents, and ensuring early ophthalmologic examination are important preventive measures.
