Question
Dear Sir / Madam,
Sorry if I disturbed you. Yesterday I received NG: YAG laser tattoo removal procedure on my hand and I haven't got protective goggles.
Just in the middle of the procedure I was told that I should close my eyes. I was watching at red laser beam on my hand for about 10 mins (I totally forgot this is not healthy to do so without goggles).
Later after procedure I was worried a lot. Is there any chance that I harmed my eyesight? My eyes feel slightly irritated today but maybe I am overthinking. I don't know should I visit ophthalmologist or not?
Thanks
Answer
Thanks for your Question
The NG:YAG laser is invisible to naked eye, what you see is the red light which is helium neon and it is an aiming beam for guidance.
Protective goggles are very important to prevent any damage to the retina from this powerful invisible laser. NG:YAG laser can deliver high energy dose and very rapidly which can cause severe damage to the eye.
NG:YAG laser can cause eye injury either by looking directly at the laser or indirectly by the reflected laser lights from the surface which can enter the eye. Indirect laser lights can cause less damage.
There are many reports of people who accidentally exposed to this laser and suffered from retinal damage such as retinal hole, vitreous hemorrhage, macular hole and retinal detachment.
The good thing is that the damage from the laser is most likely to occur directly after exposure which means if you don't feel any blurry vision or have eye floaters after the exposure, most likely you don't have any retinal damage.
It would be better if you visit any eye doctor for full eye examination just to be sure about that
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