Aircrew exposure to handheld laser pointers: the potential for retinal damage

Abstract

Aviation authorities around the world continue to report substantial growth in the incidence of laser devices being aimed at aircraft in flight. Despite government restrictions, affordable handheld laser devices, with a power of up to several thousand mW, are now easily obtainable via the Internet. Lasers of this power output and wavelength have a nominal ocular hazard distance of around 1000 ft (304.8 m). Aviation medical specialists should be aware these lasers have the potential to cause retinal damage when aircrew operating at low altitudes are exposed.