Optical Coherence Tomography Before and After Repair of a Macular Hole Induced by an Unintentional Argon Laser Burn

Full-Thickness Macular Hole Secondary to High-Power Handheld Blue Laser: Natural History and Management Outcomes

“…6 Retinal injuries attributable to different kinds of laser exposure have been reported in the medical literature. [6][7][8] The recent emergence of low-cost, high-power (up to 1400 mW), handheld laser devices has led to a new wave of maculopathies in the young population in Saudi Arabia. 9 Despite the fact that the US Food and Drug Administration has released a safety notification regarding these devices, they continue to be easily obtainable through the Internet.…”

“…Most of these injuries were caused by a pulsed laser or argon laser and occurred in occupational settings. [6][7][8] We reported the first case series of various maculopathies including full-thickness MH caused by a high-power, handheld blue laser device. 9 Such laser devices are used to light fireworks from a distance, pop balloons, and burn through plastic.…”

“…In the argon laser-induced MH described by Bernstein and Steffensmeier, a white laser burn was seen in the fovea, followed by formation of macular hole after 1 month, and a residual foveal scar remained despite successful closure of the MH. 7 At the blue wavelength, Lund and associates concluded that laser-induced retinal damage is produced via thermal mechanisms for exposures shorter than 5 seconds. 19 In our patients, we believe that the mechanism of MH formation induced by the high-power, handheld blue laser device is mostly photodisruptive; however, a limited photothermal damage at the level of the RPE cannot be ruled out, as a faint whitening of the RPE at the base of the MH was observed in all cases.…”

Reversible structural disruption of the outer retina in acute welding maculopathy

“…Thermal damage may also result in a similar hyperreflective foveal lesion. 5 Recent OCT findings in a report on chronic welding maculopathy documented permanent disruption of the foveal outer segment. 2 Histopathologic studies of chronic solar maculopathy have demonstrated that most of the disruption occurs mainly in the pigment epithelium and outer segments of the photoreceptors.…”

Laser and Its Hazard Potential

“…Vitreous [32], subretinal [33] or chorioretinal hemorrhages [32], as well as retinal edema or scars can also occur [34], and hypopigmentation [35], pigment clumps [36] and choroidal neovascularization [37] can develop. Even one month after an injury, macular holes may arise [38]. Macular pucker or epiretinal membranes were observed in some patients [39,40].…”