This 26YO male DJ noticed immediate blurred vision in his right eye after looking at a laser disco light during an event 5 days earlier. Vision was 20/120 OD.
Color photography shows a small, round, yellow lesion involving or quite close to the foveal center. OCT scanning shows full-thickness foveal disruption and hyperreflectivity.
Learning Points:
Most cases of laser maculopathy in the literature are caused by purposeful or inadvertent exposure to laser pointers (Bhavsar et al, Survey Ophthalmology 2021;66:231-260). However, more recently, there have been reports of macular injury from exposure to high-power lasers during concerts or from DJ laser machines (Perz-Montano et al, Doc Ophthalmol 2019;138:71-76). Most eyes recover fairly good vision with conservative management.
