When laser pointers fall into the hands of children or irresponsible adults, however, the potential for eye injury increases. There have been reports, for example, of children staring directly into a laser beam. Directing a laser beam at a person's eyes also poses other safety hazards, the association says. Even momentary exposure from a laser pointer can cause discomfort and temporary visual impairment. This temporary visual impairment can be dangerous if the person is driving a car, piloting a plane, participating in a sporting event or engaged in any vision-critical activity.
Glare ceases when the laser beam disappears.
Flashblindness and afterimages may last for several minutes. Maximum output should be less than 5 mW. Before you use a laser pointer, either yours or someone else's, read the label carefully. Never point the laser at another person. Do not allow children to use laser pointers unless under adult supervision and never as toys. Never look directly into the laser beam.