Why can laser light shining into the eye cause blindness?

Recently, while organizing an event, a 24-year-old man was directly hit in the eye by a stage laser light and had to be admitted to Hoa Lu Eye Hospital (Ninh Binh) for treatment. He was diagnosed with a macular hole and subretinal hemorrhage. The macula is a part of the retina at the back of the eye, where many light-sensitive cells are concentrated, and functions as central vision, helping to recognize colors and details of images that the eye sees.

This accident caused the victim to temporarily lose sight beyond 3 meters, almost becoming permanently blind even though he was only exposed to the laser for a short period of 2 seconds. The patient was treated actively, with anti-inflammatories and eye care. After a month, his vision improved.

The unfortunate incident that happened to this young man surprised many people, because most of us do not foresee the danger of laser light to eyesight. So what is a laser and why can laser light damage the eyes?

Specialist Doctor Le Duc Quoc (Eye Clinic - Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital) said that laser (Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is a light amplification technology widely used in entertainment events. This technology, when combined with projection screens and optical accessories, will create impressive visual effects for performances on stage.

Why can laser light cause blindness?

According to Dr. Quoc, unlike normal light which has many wavelengths (polychromatic) and spreads in many directions, laser light has a specific wavelength (monochromatic), is concentrated into a narrow beam and has high intensity. Therefore, exposing the eye to laser light at close range, even for a very short period of time, can cause serious damage to the eye and vision.

Severe damage causing macular hole

If laser light is exposed directly to the eyes, the following injuries may occur:

Macular damage (yellow spot of the eye): Plays the role of central vision, where many light-sensitive cells are concentrated to help the eye perceive color and image details. Direct exposure to laser can cause macular holes, making the eyes blurry, even leading to permanent blindness if the macular hole is large.

Retinal damage : The heat and intensity of the laser light can cause burns, tears, or detachments of the retina. This damage can impair central vision, cause blurred vision, affect color perception, and increase the risk of blindness.

Corneal damage : Lasers with high heat can cause burns, clouding of the cornea and damage to the corneal nerve. This damage causes the patient to have red and swollen eyes, sensitivity to light, increased risk of infection or partial loss of vision.

Lens damage : Thermal burns of the lens are a common laser-induced injury. This injury can lead to early cataract formation.

How to protect your eyes when attending events with laser lights

To protect your eyes and vision from the potentially dangerous effects of lasers when organizing or participating in events, we need to keep in mind the following points:

Avoid looking directly at the laser source . Observe the safe distance from the laser light as recommended by the manufacturer.

Use protective glasses . In cases where it is necessary to be near the laser source, special goggles can be used to protect the eyes.

“If a person feels uncomfortable, has eye pain or cannot see clearly at close range after being exposed to laser light, they should be taken to an eye hospital for examination and timely treatment,” Dr. Quoc recommended.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-anh-sang-laser-chieu-vao-mat-co-the-gay-mu-loa-185250116144653496.htm