ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Here’s why you should never stare into a laser pointer

Your mom was right.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
July 5, 2018
in Anatomy News, Health, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

We all know the old warning — you should never stare into a laser pointer. But is it really dangerous, or is it just another old-wives tale from a more modern age? Spoiler alert: it’s not. You really shouldn’t stare into a laser pointer.

A cautionary tale

Image credits: Androudi and Papageorgiou/NEJM.

The parents of a 9-year-old boy in Greece were concerned after the boy could no longer see properly with one of his eyes. They took him to a clinic, and tests showed that while the boy could see excellently with his right eye, the same couldn’t be said about his left eye. When the doctors examined him more thoroughly, they found a large hole in the macula — the central area of the retina where the light is focused in front of the eye. The boy had managed to burn a hole in his retina after repeatedly staring into a laser pointer.

Holes in the macula aren’t that uncommon in the elderly, but there’s no reason for such a problem to occur in a child. However, retinal injuries due to laser pointers have become so common that there’s actually diagnostic criteria for determining if the problem was indeed caused by one of these devices.

It doesn’t take long for the damage to take place, either. While it’s not clear what was the exposure of the boy in Greece, doctors reported a different case in 2012 where a 5mW laser pointer caused significant damage to a 13-year-old boy’s eyes after just one minute of exposure. His eyes healed, which is often, but not always, the case.

In 2015, another 13-year-old boy was unlucky enough to have a 50 mW laser shined into his eye for just one second, permanently damaging his retina.

In the US, lasers are limited to 5 mW, and in most places in Europe, legislations are even more stringent, limiting the devices to just 1 mW. You need a permit for anything stronger. But the legislation isn’t strongly enforced and it’s easy to buy a strong laser on the internet. Many lasers are also purchased via street vendors, and they can be mislabeled or not have any label at all.

RelatedPosts

Researchers turn CO2 seized from the air into valuable high-tech material
Good news: we’re living longer. Bad news: longer in sickness
Million-year-old dormant microbes beneath ocean floor push life to its absolute limits
Pandas scared after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake – warning: extreme cuteness alert

In the case of the boy in Greece, it’s unclear if the damage is permanent. After 18 months, his vision was still damaged and it may never recover. The takeaway is clear: you should never ever stare into a laser pointer — your mom was right.

The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Animals

How Bees Use the Sun for Navigation Even on Cloudy Days

byMihai Andrei
2 days ago
Inventions

Scientists Quietly Developed a 6G Chip Capable of 100 Gbps Speeds

byMihai Andrei
2 days ago
Physics

When Ice Gets Bent, It Sparks: A Surprising Source of Electricity in Nature’s Coldest Corners

byTudor Tarita
2 days ago
Future

This Teen Scientist Turned a $0.50 Bar of Soap Into a Cancer-Fighting Breakthrough and Became ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’

byTibi Puiu
2 days ago

Recent news

How Bees Use the Sun for Navigation Even on Cloudy Days

September 12, 2025

Scientists Quietly Developed a 6G Chip Capable of 100 Gbps Speeds

September 12, 2025

When Ice Gets Bent, It Sparks: A Surprising Source of Electricity in Nature’s Coldest Corners

September 12, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.