Retina-Vitreous
2003 , Vol 11 , Num 3
MACULAR INJURY DUE TO MILITARY DEVICES WHICH USE LASER
GATA Göz Hastalıkları A.D
In this study, it was aimed to report the cases with macular injury caused by military laser emitting devices. Four patients (five eyes) were presented. Accidental gaze to aiming laser beams of tank guns in one eye of a soldier in the vicinity, and range finder, a tool used for measurement of distances for military purposes, in four eyes of three soldiers were responsible for the injury. The common complaint was a decrease in visual acuity. Presenting visual acuities were between 0.1 and 0.3. There was a macular edema in 3 eyes, and hemorrhage was associated in 2 of these. There were punctate hemorrhages around the macula in one eye, and subretinal exudation in another. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) demonstrated window defect in 3 eyes. Color vision test revealed Type III acquired dyschromatopsia at 4 of the eyes. Flash electroretinography (FERG) was pathologic in 3 eyes. At three to four months follow-ups, final visual acuities ranged from 0.1 to 1.0. A patient with range finder injury described central scotoma. Laser emitting devices, used for different purposes in the military may cause irreversible macular injury. Both users and the surrounders of these devices can be affected from laser injury. Users must be educated about the potential hazards.
Keywords :
Laser induced eye injury, Macula, Range finder, Military devices