K 392
Ocular complications of facial diode laser epilation
D. Wessely, S. Münnich
Introduction: Diode lasers are increasingly used for hair epilation in all parts of the body. Because of its high energy and penetration depth into the skin, hair follicles are destroyed, which are in a growth period.
Case: A 25 years old female patient with visual glaring and a distorted pupil on the left eye presented to our clinic. Four hours before, she was treated on the left eyelid in a laser studio with a pulsed diode laser (LightSheer, Coherent Medical Systems, wavelength 810 nm). During the treatment, the patient felt a short and sharp pain in the left eye.
OD+OS: Visual acuity s.c. 1,25, i.o. pressure 8 mmHg, mutiple small and red laser spots in the whole face, especially on the left superotemporal eyelid. OS: 3 white scars on the tarsal conjuctiva of the upper lid, anterior segment revealed mild cell and flare and a distorted pupil temporally. There were several pigmentepithelium defects of the iris between 1 and 6 o´clock and the irissphincter was missing between 2 and 6 o`clock.
Results: Because of the high penetration depth of the diode laser and the small thickness of the upper lid, the laserenergy was absorbed in the pigmentepithelium of the iris. With topical application of corticosteroids the intraocular irritation regressed, the distorted pupil and the visual glaring were permanent.
Conclusions: When treating with diode lasers, ocular affections must be avoided. Therefore it is nessecary to protect the globe with suitable shields, when treating in the lid area.
University Eye-Hospital, Josef Schneider Str. 11, D 97080 Würzburg