A Case of Maculopathy from Handheld Green Laser Pointer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a case of successfully treated maculopathy after exposure to a handheld green laser pointer beam. CASE SUMMARY: A-15-year-old patient visited our clinic complaining of visual disturbance in the left eye 5 days earlier after exposure to a handheld laser pointer with 532 nm wavelength green beam for 5 seconds. His best corrected visual acuity was 20/50 in the left eye. On fundus examination, a yellowish retinal scar was observed at the foveal area. The spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed cone outer segment tip line and inner segment/outer segment line disruption, external limiting membrane line and retinal pigment epithelial complex injury related to laser pointer exposure. We started occlusion therapy, oral prednisolone and, antioxidant treatment on his left eye for 2 weeks. The best corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in the left eye at 1 month after treatment. However, spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed a scar remained in the retinal pigment epithelial complex of the macular region of his left eye while the external limiting membrane line was restored and inner segment/outer segment line was partially restored. CONCLUSIONS: Maculopathy can result from exposure to a handheld green laser pointer. Occlusion therapy, oral prednisolone and, antioxidant treatment might be helpful for recovery of visual acuity and restoration of external limiting membrane line.