There are close to 300 cases where laser products have been stopped from being sold on the European market between 2005 and 2016. Some of these products are strong laser pointers. All of them have been stopped because they allegedly pose a serious risk to consumers. However, it is proposed that the injuries from strong laser pointers should be limited to a severity index of 2. We conclude that strong laser pointers do not pose a serious risk in relation to the Rapex system used for European market surveillance authorities’ rapid reporting of dangerous products.

1.
Commission Decision No. 2010/15/EU (Rapex Guidelines),
2010
, O.J. L 22/1.
2.
Schulmeister
K.
,
Jean
M.
 (
2010
)
The risk of retinal injury from Class 2 and visible Class 3R lasers
, including medical laser aiming beams, Medical Laser Application 25,
99
–
110
.
Google Scholar
 
3.
Thaung
J.
Lopes
C.
,
Löfgren
S.
 (
2015
)
Retinal injuries from handheld lasers: An updated report, Swedish Radiation Safety Authority
,
Report number: 2015:54
, ISSN: 2000-0456.
Google Scholar
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2017 Laser Institute of America.
2017
Laser Institute of America
You do not currently have access to this content.