So I went to the Optometrist Today...

[jwc]

Here's the condensed version. About 3 months ago, there was an accident involving a ~60mW 532nm laser and my eye. Exposure time was well under a second. I went to my optometrist a few weeks ago for a routine checkup and mentioned this. After yelling at me for not telling her sooner, she took a scan of 10 layers of me eye and found no serious damage. Then, she referred me to a specialist in laser injuries. I went to see him today and in addition to trying to pinpoint where the blind spot was (which failed because the machine wasn't accurate enough--the spot is fairly small), he took a high res photo of my eye. Here's my left eye in all its glory (warning: big pic):

http://jvm.mit.edu/f/lefteye.jpg

The blind spot is that tiny little bubble in the dark circular region. Fortunately, there's no risk for macular degeneration, but it's highly unlikely that it will ever heal.

From now on, when I prepare a test, I'm not keeping the laser anywhere near what I'm working on until I have safety glasses on.

 

[themandalorian]

First of wow you're lucky, and secondly thanks for the help. My friend did something similar.

Honestly stuff like this will really scare people into being responsible, thanks

 

[urvi]

Ya you sure are lucky man. I had a nightmare the other day that i shot a laser into my eye and had a big dark spot, luckily it was only a dream.

 

[k1kb0t]

Sweet pic, glad to hear there is no serious damage. Now I see all those nerve endings the doctor talked about when looking in my eye. I'm photosensitive so his little pen like was torture keeping my eye open. Ok my eyes are watering now I'm done.

Jon

 

[Alexizupinhea]

damn this scares the hell out of me... I might have to start being more careful, and possibly shine less indoors, especially since I hardly ever wear my goggles (might change soon).

 

[randomlugia]

Honestly stuff like this will really scare people into being responsible, thanks

damn this scares the hell out of me... I might have to start being more careful, and possibly shine less indoors, especially since I hardly ever wear my goggles (might change soon).

I see your point.

 

[hakzaw1]

Sorry to hear that- I worry that I may have some damage also-what are the symptoms? I was thinking it was just part of getting old(er). Like needing cheapie reading specs. My vision gets blurry from time to time. Hope your eye are OK.--Hak--

 

[themandalorian]

How old are you hakzaw? My grandpa is 94 and needs those cheapie ones too?

 

[dr-ebert]

@jwc, could you elaborate on the nature of the accident? It sounds like you shone a 60mW laser directly into your eye. How did that happen?

 

[Gryphon]

That is an awesome pic, never seen the inside of an eye, well, not like that anyway

 

[jwc]

@jwc, could you elaborate on the nature of the accident?

My mind has blotted out most of that incident because I just don't want to think about it anymore. But from what I can remember, I was setting up some kind of test or something and pressed up against the button of the laser. I had lowered my glasses so that I could see what I was doing, so it was unpleasant to say the least.

 

[hakzaw1]

I turned 62 last week. Been toying with lasers for 15 years. My dad is 92.--hak

 

[pwnstar]

Wow thats really scary actualy. Sorry for your eye...
I hope more people on the forum get to see this. I was buying some goggle now; thats actually the only reason I came accross this thread.

EDIT: My avatar Isnt very appropriate for this thread =[

 

[larrball]

Wow thats really scary actualy. Sorry for your eye...
I hope more people on the forum get to see this. I was buying some goggle now; thats actually the only reason I came accross this thread.

EDIT: My avatar Isnt very appropriate for this thread =[

EDIT: My avatar Isnt very appropriate for this thread
But it shoud be

 

[kylefrikkentoth]

To be honest, I dont know what happend with my right eye, but I accidentally shined a 5mW green from ebay in my eye for about one second, and if i focus my eye right, I can see a spot where its blurry. I can see colors through it, but its blurry, and looks like a really light grey spot. from 2 feet away its a bout a milimeter in diameter, but I heard that naturally, everybody has a blind spot, just not everybody notices it. it looks like an upside down L, where everything is blurry... but I cant see it unless I'm looking for it. Its still scares me... and gives me a horrible feeling even though it was about 2 months ago... I dont know. But I'm sure as hell more careful with my lasers... Even if it's NOT from my lasers. I'll draw a picture with GIMP and make what it looks like.

 

[iknitsteel]

I had a incident where I got a 50mW green laser in my eye my girlfriend had it playing with it behind me and I turned around and boom right in my eye I instantly turned away and there was a ghost image in my eye for about 10 to 15 minutes after that but it doesn't look like I have a blind spot now, but that story and picture is scarring the hell out of me. Should I go to the eye doctor? I just ordered some safety goggles too.

Justin