Laser-induced CNV following hair removal procedure

Objective: To describe the chronological features of choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) development subsequent to accidental firing of diode laser into the eye of a young female during hair epilation. Methods: Descriptive case report. Results: The patient presented one week after the laser injury to a local ophthalmologist complaining of RE (right eye) blurred central vision. Snellen’s visual acuity (VA) was 6/ 7.5. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed focal disruption of the ellipsoid and the interdigitation zones. Four weeks later, she presented with worsening symptoms and RE VA 6/ 15. Funduscopy revealed a perifoveal grayish lesion with adjacent retinal hemorrhage, which, on fluorescein angiography, was leaking, compatible with CNV. OCT showed a dome-shaped sub-retinal pigment epithelium lesion with extension into the subretinal space and little subretinal fluid. The patient was treated with one intravitreal bevacizumab injection. There was rapid regression of the CNV and improvement of VA to 6/ 7.5 at one-month visit and to 6/ 6 at 6-month visit. Conclusion: All the laser procedures should be conducted with intensive care for both the patient and the laser surgeon since inadvertent effects are constantly being reported due to lack of adherence to safety measures.