aryntha
0
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,033
- Points
- 83
No real solace, but -- let us know what happens... From what you say, it seems like it was kind of an oblique hit which means maybe it's going to be more of a peripheral issue, the edge of the fovea not the center of it.
Either way I hope you are reading this because any swelling that follows (and there can be swelling -- severe) could make things worse, and, i'm going to say it: lead to complete vision loss or loss of that eye, if the inflammation gets too intense. This is why it's important to get to the ER so they can get you on corticosteroids (prednisone or the like) to keep that from happening.
Even if it hit a 'less important' part of the eye, it could progress like this. If you start to feel pain or pressure in that eye, it means that it is beginning to swell and inflame, and you need to be to the ER within the hour. Even if it doesn't hurt "now" it could damage your whole eye if you wait. Versus showing up at the ER and they give you a bitter tasting pill or a quick steroid shot that saves your eye.
I know the temptation to 'sleep on it' and see if it'll be gone in the morning, but this isn't worth that. Hopefully you're reading this and doing something about it -- it's about all we can do from our end at this point. (I know from experience due to anaphylactic episodes lately how much of a temptation it is to 'man up' and 'ride it out' -- I've had to force myself, at 3am, to wake people up and say 'look i know its 3am and its -6'F but I need to be driven to the hospital NOW." And it sucked. But it also probably saved my life. This isn't life threatening, but it is eye-threatening, so, please, if you're reading this; Stand up, walk to someone who can help, and do it. Ignore the reservations, and go through the functions. You'll be thankful later.)
... Hindsight means nothing here, and I'm not admoninshing the OP since he paid for his mistake and doesn't need to be lectured but, personally, and maybe other people would concur:
1) When "aligning" Class 4 laser ... OD3 or better. I've had enough near misses with OD3+ on to scare the hell out of me. They've saved my ass.
2) Liquid sky with 1W? I'm just not sure the risk is worth the reward there.
3) Check the OD on your eyewear. Lasers have progressed, even in the 2 years since I got a lot of my goggles. With the new Mitsubishi 500+w 638s, I've realized that my red OD 1.5's are no longer really suitable and I have to pony up for something a bit more significant in the red range.
4) Yeah. We all want to see the effect WITHOUT the eyewear on. Of course. But in a situation like this, it's like pre-flight with a plane. Mental checklist. (Even seasoned pilots still do their checklists, which they've done 1000+ times before... 'Pros' dont skip it.) "Is everything secured." / "Am I BEHIND any poossible danger of reflection"... Then, you can observe.
Here, a 'round' laser 'rolled' and hit the OP, completely unsuspecting. This is why even if you're "really careful", bad things can happen. Nobody plans to have an accident. As time goes on a post like this can serve as a reminder for us to not be so lax, to not be so cocky, and to straighten up and fly right.
As i'm writing this I have a 27mW HeNe running across the room. I realized how completely lax i've become about something like this. When in reality, 27mW could absolutely cause permanent damage, no questions asked. I see people who treat 50mW or 100mW like it's harmless. It isn't. In 2006 we'd all be wowing about 80mW of 532, and showing respect for it. Now, 200mW barely gets us out of bed in the morning. Our perspectives have changed but unfortunately the temperature at which tissue scars has not, at all.
I hope somehow, to hear an update from the OP, that because of the angle, or the motion (a sweep), or the timing -- that his vision is OK. I really hope that's the outcome. Or if there is damage, that it's really minor and peripheral. We're REALLY lucky we haven't seen more accidents like this because a lot of folks actually do take precautions. But I hate to say it, I think every once in a while everyone needs a bit of a wakeup call like this.
I know it's helped me. It's certainly "rebooted" my goggle and precautionary habits... so for what its' worth, Xoul, as empty as it may be -- thank you for posting this, and *please* let us know the outcome... I know I'm hoping it's going to be OK.
Either way I hope you are reading this because any swelling that follows (and there can be swelling -- severe) could make things worse, and, i'm going to say it: lead to complete vision loss or loss of that eye, if the inflammation gets too intense. This is why it's important to get to the ER so they can get you on corticosteroids (prednisone or the like) to keep that from happening.
Even if it hit a 'less important' part of the eye, it could progress like this. If you start to feel pain or pressure in that eye, it means that it is beginning to swell and inflame, and you need to be to the ER within the hour. Even if it doesn't hurt "now" it could damage your whole eye if you wait. Versus showing up at the ER and they give you a bitter tasting pill or a quick steroid shot that saves your eye.
I know the temptation to 'sleep on it' and see if it'll be gone in the morning, but this isn't worth that. Hopefully you're reading this and doing something about it -- it's about all we can do from our end at this point. (I know from experience due to anaphylactic episodes lately how much of a temptation it is to 'man up' and 'ride it out' -- I've had to force myself, at 3am, to wake people up and say 'look i know its 3am and its -6'F but I need to be driven to the hospital NOW." And it sucked. But it also probably saved my life. This isn't life threatening, but it is eye-threatening, so, please, if you're reading this; Stand up, walk to someone who can help, and do it. Ignore the reservations, and go through the functions. You'll be thankful later.)
... Hindsight means nothing here, and I'm not admoninshing the OP since he paid for his mistake and doesn't need to be lectured but, personally, and maybe other people would concur:
1) When "aligning" Class 4 laser ... OD3 or better. I've had enough near misses with OD3+ on to scare the hell out of me. They've saved my ass.
2) Liquid sky with 1W? I'm just not sure the risk is worth the reward there.
3) Check the OD on your eyewear. Lasers have progressed, even in the 2 years since I got a lot of my goggles. With the new Mitsubishi 500+w 638s, I've realized that my red OD 1.5's are no longer really suitable and I have to pony up for something a bit more significant in the red range.
4) Yeah. We all want to see the effect WITHOUT the eyewear on. Of course. But in a situation like this, it's like pre-flight with a plane. Mental checklist. (Even seasoned pilots still do their checklists, which they've done 1000+ times before... 'Pros' dont skip it.) "Is everything secured." / "Am I BEHIND any poossible danger of reflection"... Then, you can observe.
Here, a 'round' laser 'rolled' and hit the OP, completely unsuspecting. This is why even if you're "really careful", bad things can happen. Nobody plans to have an accident. As time goes on a post like this can serve as a reminder for us to not be so lax, to not be so cocky, and to straighten up and fly right.
As i'm writing this I have a 27mW HeNe running across the room. I realized how completely lax i've become about something like this. When in reality, 27mW could absolutely cause permanent damage, no questions asked. I see people who treat 50mW or 100mW like it's harmless. It isn't. In 2006 we'd all be wowing about 80mW of 532, and showing respect for it. Now, 200mW barely gets us out of bed in the morning. Our perspectives have changed but unfortunately the temperature at which tissue scars has not, at all.
I hope somehow, to hear an update from the OP, that because of the angle, or the motion (a sweep), or the timing -- that his vision is OK. I really hope that's the outcome. Or if there is damage, that it's really minor and peripheral. We're REALLY lucky we haven't seen more accidents like this because a lot of folks actually do take precautions. But I hate to say it, I think every once in a while everyone needs a bit of a wakeup call like this.
I know it's helped me. It's certainly "rebooted" my goggle and precautionary habits... so for what its' worth, Xoul, as empty as it may be -- thank you for posting this, and *please* let us know the outcome... I know I'm hoping it's going to be OK.
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