Editing Laser pointer (section)

===Eye injury===
The output of laser pointers available to the general public is limited (and varies by country) in order to prevent accidental damage to the [[retina]] of [[human eye]]s. The U.K. [[Health Protection Agency]] recommended that "laser pointers generally available to the public should be restricted to less than 1 milliwatt as no injuries [like the one reported below to have caused retinal damage] have been reported at this power".<ref name=damage1>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10266498.stm |title=Laser pointers 'pose danger to eyes' |work=BBC News |date=9 June 2010}}</ref><ref name=damage2>[http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c2982.full Maculopathy from handheld green diode laser pointer], Kimia Ziahosseini, et a., BMJ 2010;340:c2982</ref> In the U.S., regulatory authorities allow lasers up to 5&nbsp;mW.

Studies have found that even low-power laser beams of not more than 5&nbsp;mW can cause permanent retinal damage if gazed at for several seconds; however, the eye's [[blink reflex]] must be intentionally overcome to make this occur. Such laser pointers have reportedly caused [[afterimage]]s, [[flash blindness]] and [[Glare (vision)|glare]],<ref name=princeton>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110809020724/http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/LabPage/laserpointersafety.htm Princeton University: Safety Recommendations for Laser Pointers]. Web.princeton.edu. Retrieved on 15 October 2011.</ref> but not permanent damage, and are generally [[laser safety|safe]] when used as intended.

A high-powered green laser pointer bought over the [[Internet]] was reported in 2010 to have caused a decrease of [[visual acuity]] from 6/6 to 6/12 (20/20 to 20/40); after two months acuity recovered to 6/6, but some retinal damage remained.<ref name=damage1/><ref name=damage2/> The US FDA issued a warning after two [[anecdotal report]]s it received of eye injury from laser pointers.<ref name=princeton/>

Laser pointers available for purchase online can be capable of significantly higher power output than the pointers typically available in stores. Dubbed "Burning Lasers", these are designed to burn through light plastics and paper, and can have very similar external appearances to their low-power counterparts.<ref name="NEJM">{{cite journal|title=Retinal Injuries from a Handheld Laser Pointer |doi=10.1056/NEJMc1005818|journal= N Engl J Med |volume= 363|issue=11|pages=1089–1091|year=2010|last1=Wyrsch|first1=Stefan|last2=Baenninger|first2=Philipp B.|last3=Schmid|first3=Martin K.|pmid=20825327|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg">Gordon, Serena (8 September 2010) [http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/642932.html Kids Playing With Laser Pointers May Be Aiming for Eye Trouble; Teen boy damages retina with Internet-purchased 'toy,' doctors say] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416060942/http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/642932.html |date=16 April 2012 }}. Bloomberg BusinessWeek</ref> Because of their high power, many online retailers have warned high-power laser pointer users not to point them at humans or animals.

Studies in the early twenty-first century found that the risk to the human eye from accidental exposure to light from commercially available class IIIa laser pointers having powers up to 5&nbsp;mW seemed rather small; however, prolonged viewing, such as deliberate staring into the beam for 10 or more seconds, can cause damage.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Assessment of Alleged Retinal Laser Injuries|journal=Arch Ophthalmol|year=2004|volume= 122|pages= 1210–1217|issue=8|doi=10.1001/archopht.122.8.1210|pmid=15302664|last1=Mainster|first1=M. A.|last2=Stuck|first2=B. E.|last3=Brown Jr|first3=J|doi-access=}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Retinopathy From a Green Laser Pointer: a Clinicopathologic Study |journal=Arch. Ophthalmol. |year=2005 |volume=123 |pages=629–633 |pmid=15883281|doi=10.1001/archopht.123.5.629|issue=5|last1=Robertson |first1=D. M. |last2=McLaren |first2=J. W. |last3=Salomao |first3=D. R. |last4=Link |first4=T. P. |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Sliney DH, Dennis JE|title=Safety concerns about laser pointers|journal= J. Laser Appl. |year=1994|volume=6|issue=3|pages=159–164|doi=10.2351/1.4745352|bibcode=1994JLasA...6..159S}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Assessment of Alleged Retinal Laser Injuries |pmid=15302664 |journal=Arch Ophthalmol |year=2004 |volume=122 |pages=1210–1217|doi=10.1001/archopht.122.8.1210|issue=8|last1=Mainster |first1=M. A. |last2=Stuck |first2=B. E. |last3=Brown Jr |first3=J |doi-access= }}</ref>

The UK Health Protection Agency warns against the higher-power typically green laser pointers available over the Internet, with power output of up to a few hundred milliwatts, as "extremely dangerous and not suitable for sale to the public."<ref>[http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1195733794576 UK Health Protection Agency Information Sheet on Laser Pointers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613070927/http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb%26HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1195733794576 |date=13 June 2008 }}. Hpa.org.uk (21 May 2010). Retrieved on 2011-10-15.</ref>