Laser Related Eye Injuries Rising Fast In the US Military

Laser-related eye injuries among U.S.soldiers in Iraqhave risen significantly in the last six months, prompting the military toreview its use of green lasers.

The lasers, also called "dazzlers," put out agreen light that looks a bit like a sniper rifle laser. They allow soldiers toget the attention of Iraqi drivers, without firing warning shots, at securitycheckpoints, in military convoys and on vehicle patrols. And if a suspiciousvehicle or pedestrian doesn't stop, the lasers can temporarily blind ordisorient, giving soldiers a means of suppression without firing bullets.

Part of soldiers' "escalation-of-force" kits,green lasers have been used in Iraq for two years, said Lt. Col. DavidPatterson Jr., spokesman for Multi-National Corps -- Iraq.

He said the military is not aware of any injuries to Iraqis.Checks with Baghdadhospitals and human rights campaigners also did not turn up reliable estimateson injuries to civilians.

Nonlethal weapons "help fill the gap between shoutingand shooting," said Kelley Hughes, a spokeswoman for the Joint Non-LethalWeapons Directorate based in Quantico, Va., in an e-mail.

But in recent months, the lasers have been beamed in theeyes of soldiers, either accidentally by another soldier, or in one casethrough inadvertent self-inflicted exposure, according to Maj. Paul Hayes, 3rdSustainment Command (Expeditionary) spokesman.

Since November 2008, the 3rd ESC has had 64 laser incidentsreported in Iraq,resulting in 45 documented injuries to soldiers. Two of those injuries werepermanent -- one soldier is now legally blind in one eye, Hayes said.

Both Multi-National Corps -- Iraq and 3rd ESC CommanderBrig. Gen. Michael Lally are stepping up laser safety and training efforts,including confiscating some unapproved lasers and establishing green lasertraining requirements and detailed safety accident reporting and training,officials said.

Army Capt. Russell Harris, commander of B Troop, 3rdSquadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, alerted his battalion command in Januaryafter observing that some units were using lasers as signaling devices andinadvertently shined lasers in the eyes of soldiers inside their trucks, hesaid.

"We stopped some convoys, telling them, ‘Hey, you needto be more careful with that laser; you lased our truck,' " Harris said.

Despite guidelines calling for troops to shine the lasersinto car windshields only under dire circumstances, on three recent patrols in Baghdad soldiers did sofor seemingly routine traffic control.

Harris has had six soldiers in his unit beamed in"friendly" laser incidents, he said.

"It's just like being blinded by a bright light,"he said. "Some of the guys complained of headaches."

The soldiers were treated locally and none suffered lastingdamage, Harris said.

Of the two soldiers from elsewhere in 3rd ESC with permanenteye injuries, one was attempting to employ the laser on a fast-approachingvehicle, Hayes said. To avoid exposing his arms above the turret, he shined hislaser through a bulletproof window. The beam reflected back in his eye, causingan injury.

The other soldier was "lased" by a convoy enteringan installation while the soldier manning an entry control point guard tower,Hayes said.

At least five U.S.troops have been medically evacuated from Iraqsince December due to serious eye injuries caused by green lasers, according toU.S.military officials.

Dr. (Maj.) Omaya Youssef, the chief of Ophthamology Servicesat Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, said the hospital has seenanywhere from five to eight laser injuries in the last two years, most due toaccidental exposure.

"Usually, the damage is temporary," he said,"but they have to be evaluated by a retina specialist in the States."

The green lasers can damage the eye's photo receptors, whichare the cells in the retina that catch light, Youssef said. If damaged,"they leave a small blind spot in your vision" about the size of aquarter, he said.

Such an injury manifests as swelling to the back of theretina and usually can be improved with anti-inflammatory medication for 14days or longer.

In more severe cases, the retina can burn.

The extent of damage depends on the strength of the laserand the victim's proximity to it, Youssef said. Viewing the laser through acamera or binoculars can cause even greater injury.

Green laser dazzlers are designed to cause disorientationfor about 15 minutes, Youssef said. The whole retina becomes bleached with agreen light, that, similar to a bright camera flash, "tends to fade andfade and fade," the doctor said.

According to the Army, green lasers are manufactured with anoutput power of several hundred milliwatts, while typical red laser pointersbeing sold for classroom use are less than 5 milliwatts.

But despite its nonlethal billing, the green laser dazzlersgive Human Rights Watch's senior military analyst reason to worry.

"The distinction between a dazzling laser and ablinding laser remains disconcertingly unclear," said Marc Garlasco."We fear that weapons labeled as dazzlers could easily be used to blindintentionally and ... will proliferate greatly throughout the world,undermining the ban on blinding lasers."

An international protocol bans use of blinding lasers.

While Human Rights Watch notes the military has seen somesuccess in reducing casualties in escalation-of-force incidents at checkpoints,"it's not clear the improvements are solely due to dazzlers,"Garlasco said.

"The potential damage to the eyes may warrant anotherlook at the use of these weapons," he said. "What about the civilianpopulation who these are made to be used on regularly?"

Human Rights Watch does not keep data on any injuries toIraqis from lasers, he said.

The military is strict on the use of any laser system,according to an official with B.E. Meyer, the manufacturer of Green BeamDesignator III, which is used by the Marines in Iraqand Afghanistan.

"They are treated as a weapon, and the militaryrequires extensive training prior to use and operation," Bruce Westcoat,vice president of business development, said in an e-mail.

The Marines have not reported any injuries, according toMarine Corps spokesman Maj. David Nevers.

This summer, the Marines will begin fielding Green Beamdesignators with a new safety control module that will automatically reduce thelaser's power or shut it off if someone breaches the 65-meter safe zone.

The Navy will use the same model as the Marines on ships andfor deployed sailors downrange, according to Navy officials.

Air Force officials said security forces airmen in Iraq and Afghanistan use the B.E. MeyersGlare MOUT. No security forces airmen have been injured by green lasers,officials said.