A Case of Maculopathy from Handheld Green Laser Pointer.

Kim, Young Jun; Chung, In Young; Kim, Seong Jae; Park, Jong Moon; Han, Yong Seop

doi:2015.56.3.447

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > Volume 56(3); 2015 > Article

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2015;56(3):447-451.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2015.56.3.447 Published online March 15, 2015.

A Case of Maculopathy from Handheld Green Laser Pointer.

Young Jun Kim, In Young Chung, Seong Jae Kim, Jong Moon Park, Yong Seop Han

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. medcabin@hanmail.net
²Gyeongsang Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.

녹색광 레이저 포인터 조사 후 발생한 황반병증 1예

김영준¹⋅정인영^1,2⋅김성재^1,2⋅박종문^1,2⋅한용섭^1,2

경상대학교 의학전문대학원 안과학교실¹, 경상대학교 건강과학연구원²

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.

Key Words: Antioxidant;Green laser pointer;Maculopathy;Prednisolone;SD-OCT