[AZ-Observing] "Green Lasers are not toys" has new meaning
- From: "Mozdzen, Tom J" <tom.j.mozdzen@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 21:55:30 -0700
Paraphrased: "Green lasers are like knifes, useful for many purposes,
but dangerous if handled incorrectly."
Green lasers are now used in prostate surgery to remove troublesome
prostate glands. It is replacing the old hot wire tool.
http://www.laserscope.com/surgical/consumers/enlargedprostate.html
There was also a study to see if 5mW green lasers could do damage to the
eye. Do not try this at home. Some poor soul was to have his eye
removed, and agreed to the doctor's experiment before his surgery.=20
Previously, the doctor could not induce damage using a red laser.
Although the exposure times were much longer than an accidental "flash
in the eye", they were able to induce damage.
Here is the start of the article, and the link to the full article is at
the end.
Green laser pointers can cause visible harm to the eye's retina=20
Medical Research News=20
Published: Monday, 9-May-2005=20
Printer Friendly Email to a Friend
=20
Mayo Clinic ophthalmologists have found commercially available Class 3A
green laser pointers can cause visible harm to the eye's retina with
exposures as short as 60 seconds. The findings will be published in the
May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.=20
Dennis Robertson, M.D., Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist, conducted
investigations with a green laser pointer directed to the retina of a
patient's eye; the eye was scheduled for removal because of a
malignancy. The green laser damaged the pigment layer of the retina,
although it did not cause a measurable decrease in the visual function
of the patient's eye. Dr. Robertson believes that longer exposures could
harm vision, however. He also warns about potential damage from
higher-powered green laser pointers.=20
http://www.news-medical.net/print_article.asp?id=3D9901
Happy reading,
Tom
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