Lasers in Toys Pose Eye Damage Risk

With the holidays just around the corner, your kids are probably already making their “wish” list for Santa. If toys with lasers are topping the lists, you may want to reconsider letting Santa bring those products down the chimney.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers that toys that incorporate lasers pose a threat of serious eye injury and even blindness, especially when the laser beams are shone into the eye.

Products with lasers like the ones listed below can injure kids, adults and even pets:

• “Weapons” such as toy guns or lightsabers
• Spinning tops
• Optical effect lasers for entertainment

When pointed at your eyes, these lasers may even be more hazardous than staring directly into the sun.

If you must purchase a toy that incorporates a laser, read the labels on the products to make sure it complies with 21 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Subchapter J. For more information about this consumer update, click here.

At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery we use lasers for LASIK vision correction; however, this eye surgery is done in a controlled environment using extreme safety precautions. Our LASIK technology has been FDA-approved for LASIK and we continually monitor any changes to the FDA approval.  

To learn more about LASIK, contact our office to schedule your free LASIK Consultation at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com.