Health risks from the use of laser pointers.

Since first being developed in 1960, the LASER, an acronym for Light Amplification Stimulated Emission of Radiation, has become a commonplace device in industry, commerce, entertainment and medicine. Laser pointers – the hand-held, pen-like devices that project a beam of laser light – are rapidly replacing the traditional wooden pointers used by lecturers during presentations. However, these pointers can be misused, for example, by students in classrooms or by children at home, and this has generated safety concerns. There have been reports of temporary blindness, disorientation and headaches by bus drivers, airline pilots, police and teachers. Manufacturers are now using similar low powered laser devices in toys.