EVALUATION OF SUSPECTED INJURY

All service members with a laser exposure require evaluation. The form below includes key points for documentation as well as recommended testing and intervals. Generally, service members should be evaluated at least daily until symptoms resolve or evacuation to an eye care provider is available. After evacuation out of theater frequency of follow-up is based on clinical situation, but should occur at a minimum of 1, 3, and 6 months following exposure/injury. Detailed sheets to guide the evaluation for all providers are available in Appendix A. These include sheets to guide initial providers through key history and examination elements, as well as more specialized recommendations for eye care providers. Medical documentation does not replace operational reporting as detailed below. These recommendations may be modified as new information is available through ongoing analysis of exposures and outcomes.

Use of the Laser Incident Questionnaire (Appendix B) enables both medical and operational aspects of the incident to be documented. Exposed/injured service members can expect to undergo more extensive interviews with additional medical, operational, and military intelligence personnel after treatment has been initiated.