Laser Eye Damage

The only lasers I've ever handled were all 5mW, but recently I think my vision has been damaged. About 3 weeks ago I got my Lyra-G5 which always put out about 5mW, and I accidentally got it in my eyes a few times, but didn't notice any damage. But then, last week I noticed while laying down, looking up at a white ceiling, I noticed a small black dot in my vision, but I could barely see it and didn't think much about it. Yesterday, in school, I noticed it again. It appeared for like 1-3 minutes, but then it decreased in size to the point where I couldn't really see it to good. Now for the past 2 days it seems to appear a few times every day for a minute or two, but then get even smaller where it isn't noticeable to me. When it appears full size it is incredibly small (I can still read the small letters in a book fine) but noticeable.

Will this blind spot likely heal? It is so tiny and I didn't know I even had it to until last week and I forgot about it for a week as well. I never have been exposed to something over 5 mW, and my direct exposhers (where the dot gets in my eye) have been under a second. I have looked at it from an angle (meaning no not in my eye) with it on to remove dust particles, but I didn't think it was bad because it was basically like if someone shines a 5mW pointer at your chest and you look at the person therefore looking in the aperture but not having it shined in you're eye. Does this do damage (assuming its under 6mW, because the Lyra might peak around 6)?

So basically the blind spot gets worse a few times a day for usually 1-3 minutes then goes back to being so tiny that I have to really look closely to see it.

So will it heal? I've heard that people have gotten much worse then me. I never even heard of some one who recieved laser damage that was less worse than mine as well. On Wikipedia, a read that some kid shined a 5mW in their eye for 10 seconds straight and got a blind spot for 3 months, then recovered. However, the pointer used could of been only a mW or two. Does 5mW have a lot quicker exposer time for damage then 1mW does?

Edit: It still is there, when it appears, It is definitly there.

None of your descriptions sound like the resulting damage from a laser strike.  It is more likely that this is a "floater" that you are just "noticing" now because of the worry about being hit by your laser.  10mW CAN hurt you, but it is not easy to do. If all you got was a momentary hit, this is not from it.

More worrisome to me is the statement that you got hit "a few times." Getting hit a few times is NOT an accident. It is carelessness and negligence.

Peace,
dave

daguin said:

None of your descriptions sound like the resulting damage from a laser strike.  It is more likely that this is a "floater" that you are just "noticing" now because of the worry about being hit by your laser.  10mW CAN hurt you, but it is not easy to do. If all you got was a momentary hit, this is not from it.

More worrisome to me is the statement that you got hit "a few times."  Getting hit a few times is NOT an accident.  It is carelessness and negligence.

Peace,
dave

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Is it really possible I'm imagining the dot? I don't think I am. When it appears I can clearly see it's there. Does looking at it when it's on, but with the dot not in you're eye do damage?

When I said a few times, I meant one or two, not 3-5.

Bump, I still have a bunch of questions and no answers....

I agree with Danguin that it is unlikely your brief laser exposure caused this dot, especially since it seems to appear and disappear so long afterwards.

One possibility is that you have had this dark spot for a very long time but never noticed before. The combination of eye and brain fysiology allows compensation for damage to some degree - it doesnt work like a dead pixel on your digital camera. Also, it has probably got little to do with imagining, more with becoming aware of someting.

If you are concerned, seek medical attention - it is possible to look at your retina to see if there is any damage there.

Benm said:

I agree with Danguin that it is unlikely your brief laser exposure caused this dot, especially since it seems to appear and disappear so long afterwards.

One possibility is that you have had this dark spot for a very long time but never noticed before. The combination of eye and brain fysiology allows compensation for damage to some degree - it doesnt work like a dead pixel on your digital camera. Also, it has probably got little to do with imagining, more with becoming aware of someting.

If you are concerned, seek medical attention - it is possible to look at your retina to see if there is any damage there.

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When I can see it clearly (10-15 times a day now) it is definitely there, and I am unable to see in that spot. I know that I haven't had it before, because when it appears clearly it is very noticeable.

Would a Optometrist be able to tell if my eye has damage?

Go to the eye Dr. so you can find out what the problems is. Then you will know to worry about it or not. Dont drive yourself crazy about it.

Andrewajt62 said:

When I can see it clearly (10-15 times a day now) it is definitely there, and I am unable to see in that spot. I know that I haven't had it before, because when it appears clearly it is very noticeable.

Would a Optometrist be able to tell if my eye has damage?

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How big is the spot? Say compared to the angle your thumbnail is when looking at that with your arm extended? Does it always occur in the exact same position in your vision, in one or both eyes, and are you able to see normally (with only the affected eye) between these episodes?

I am not entirely sure about american medical titles, but i believe what your are looking for is an opthalmologist - at least a medical professional, not someone that fits glasses. Your GP should be able to refer someone.

Also, i'm not by any means implying wether there is something wrong with your eye or not, but seeking some advice seems the right thing to do if it has you worried.

Benm said:

[quote author=Andrewajt62 link=1233709833/0#5 date=1233872213]
When I can see it clearly (10-15 times a day now) it is definitely there, and I am unable to see in that spot. I know that I haven't had it before, because when it appears clearly it is very noticeable.

Would a Optometrist be able to tell if my eye has damage?

Click to expand...

How big is the spot? Say compared to the angle your thumbnail is when looking at that with your arm extended? Does it always occur in the exact same position in your vision, in one or both eyes, and are you able to see normally (with only the affected eye) between these episodes?

I am not entirely sure about american medical titles, but i believe what your are looking for is an opthalmologist - at least a medical professional, not someone that fits glasses. Your GP should be able to refer someone.

Also, i'm not by any means implying wether there is something wrong with your eye or not, but seeking some advice seems the right thing to do if it has you worried. [/quote]

Maybe about 1/2 of the size, I can't tell right now because it oddly appears, usually for periods of five minutes many times a day. During those times, It disappears when my right eye is closed and appears when it is not. It is not the center of my vision, but some what close to it.

Andrewajt62 said:

But then, last week I noticed while laying down, looking up at a white ceiling, I noticed a small black dot in my vision, but I could barely see it and didn't think much about it.

Click to expand...

Sad, a dead pixel. Maybe it can regain life if you stare at this video http://www.jscreenfix.com/basic.php . Some people say it works!

NovoRei said:

[quote author=Andrewajt62 link=1233709833/0#0 date=1233709833]But then, last week I noticed while laying down, looking up at a white ceiling, I noticed a small black dot in my vision, but I could barely see it and didn't think much about it.

Click to expand...

Sad, a dead pixel. Maybe it can regain life if you stare at this video http://www.jscreenfix.com/basic.php . Some people say it works!
[/quote]

Shut up! For me it's like having a dead pixel in your eye! I have a serious problem and your cracking jokes!

Obviously it's no joke to you, but it also isn't something anyone here can give you any help with. You need to consult a doctor to find out if there is anything wrong with your eye, and if so if anything can be done about it. This would also ensure it is not some kind of progressing problem.

I have also noticed a black dot in the center of my vision once or twice, specially after using the laser, I think that's just cuz of looking at the dot from so close, but it hasn't appeared much more times.

I asked a friend who is a doctor and he told me to make a easy test. If its because of looking at the dot, the blind spot MUST be in the center of the vision, so just take a glow in the dark stick or soemthing glowing weakly and try to look at it after turniung the light off. I did that from like 1 meter with a 1cm of diameter glowing stick (suposed to be a small star to glue on the wall )

I couldn't see it at first minutes with the right eye and so he told me to stop looking at the dot from close distances (3 meters) anymore. Since I've followed his recomendations I haven't noticed it again.

Anyways my laser is a 50mW, 10mW can't damage your eyes without direct hits (unless its underpowred and you dont know, kinda common in cheap lasers)

yours,
Hallucynogenyc

--Hallucynogenyc-- said:

I have also noticed a black dot in the center of my vision once or twice, specially after using the laser, I think that's just cuz of looking at the dot from so close, but it hasn't appeared much more times.

I asked a friend who is a doctor and he told me to make a easy test. If its because of looking at the dot, the blind spot MUST be in the center of the vision, so just take a glow in the dark stick or soemthing glowing weakly and try to look at it after turniung the light off. I did that from like 1 meter with a 1cm of diameter glowing stick (suposed to be a small star to glue on the wall )

I couldn't see it at first minutes with the right eye and so he told me to stop looking at the dot from close distances (3 meters) anymore. Since I've followed his recomendations I haven't noticed it again.

Anyways my laser is a 50mW, 10mW can't damage your eyes without direct hits (unless its underpowred and you dont know, kinda common in cheap lasers)

yours,
Hallucynogenyc

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The dot appears many times a day, even if I never see a laser that day. I'll try to get to an eye doctor although I still don't know of an Optremist can look at my retina.

--Hallucynogenyc-- said:

I have also noticed a black dot in the center of my vision once or twice, specially after using the laser, I think that's just cuz of looking at the dot from so close, but it hasn't appeared much more times.

I asked a friend who is a doctor and he told me to make a easy test. If its because of looking at the dot, the blind spot MUST be in the center of the vision, so just take a glow in the dark stick or soemthing glowing weakly and try to look at it after turniung the light off. I did that from like 1 meter with a 1cm of diameter glowing stick (suposed to be a small star to glue on the wall )

I couldn't see it at first minutes with the right eye and so he told me to stop looking at the dot from close distances (3 meters) anymore. Since I've followed his recomendations I haven't noticed it again.

Anyways my laser is a 50mW, 10mW can't damage your eyes without direct hits (unless its underpowred and you dont know, kinda common in cheap lasers)

yours,
Hallucynogenyc

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It's not 10mW, it's 5mW, but it is around 5mW, unlike most "<5mW" pointers. When I was claening the lens, I turned it on to see where the dust was on the lens, but the dot wasn't shining in my eye. I only got directly hit 1-3 times at most.

The dot appears many times a day, even if I never see a laser that day. Like about 15. I'll try to get to an eye doctor although I still don't know of an Optremist can look at my retina.

I can't really tell so great if it's center. Next time I see it I'll do some better tests.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. 10mW is REALLY hard to damage your eyes with. Just take a break from it and it'll go away(most likely).