Popular Afrikaans singer Bobby van Jaarsveld recently took to social media to warn parents after his son, Leben, suffered serious eye damage and lost 90% of his vision in one of his eyes when a laser toy was shone into it.
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Singer Bobby and his family are counting their blessings after his son nearly lost one of his eyes when an ‘innocent’ laser was shone directly into it.
In a post shared on Instagram, Bobby shared a video from the hospital, showing Leben in visible pain while he tried to comfort him. “I didn’t think I was going to share this, but I feel I have to warn people,” he wrote.
The singer revealed that doctors initially feared that Leben would lose his eye completely. “We prayed, begged and trusted for a long time because we were told he was going to lose his eye. That feeling a parent experiences when they hear that I can’t describe,” he wrote.
Bobby said the incident has left them traumatised as a family. “We never want to experience this again. My son, Leben, lost 90% of his vision because of an ‘innocent’ laser that was shone into his eye,” he urged parents to get rid of laser toys.
After seeking multiple medical opinions, the family eventually consulted Dr B Wolff, who performed a successful operation that saved Leben’s eye. According to van Jaarsveld, the doctor described the outcome as a “miracle”, noting that very few patients recover from such severe damage.
The musician ended his post with gratitude and a stern warning: “The doctor himself said it was a miracle because few people’s eyes can be saved after something like that. So, we praise God for that! Parents… break those lasers,” van Jaarsveld wrote.
Although the operation saved Leben’s eye, he lost 90% of his vision.
Support from Fans
The post has sent shockwaves across social media, with Bobby’s followers flooding the comments section with prayers, well‑wishes and messages of support.
@mkhizezee wrote, “Praise be to our God. Who hears the prayers his children. May I ask where was the source of this Lazer coming from? I’m a parent who wants to be informed [sic].”
@ms_ilseklink wrote, “Much courage and strength to your son! I’m glad he is on the mend. Sending much love to you all.”
@julian_bodybuilder wrote,” @bobbyvanjaarsveld I’m so grateful to hear that your son eye surgery was a success! 🙏 God is such a beautiful and faithful Father. His hand was clearly over him through the whole process. May his healing continue smoothly and may his sight grow stronger every day. His covered in His love and grace [sic].”
Study Warns About the Impact of Laser Toys
Research has raised concerns about the impact of laser toys on children’s eyesight after several cases of retinal injury were documented in young patients exposed to handheld lasers. In the study Toy Laser Macular Burns in Children, published in the journal Eye, ophthalmologists reported that children who looked directly at laser beams from toy lasers developed macular injuries, which is damage to the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Some of the children initially experienced blurred or reduced vision, and eye examinations revealed retinal burns and distinctive lesions in the macula.
Although the visible retinal injuries appeared to improve over time, follow-up examinations using advanced retinal imaging found lasting structural damage in the retinal layers, including disruption of photoreceptors that are critical for vision. In some cases, children’s vision on a standard eye chart returned close to normal, but more sensitive testing showed reduced retinal sensitivity, suggesting that the eye had not fully recovered.
Researchers also warned that many laser toys may exceed recommended safety limits, particularly inexpensive devices purchased online. Because the retina can be damaged by even brief exposure to a focused laser beam, the authors concluded that toy lasers pose a significant and often underestimated risk to children’s eyesight, especially when used without supervision or proper safety standards.
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Singer Bobby van Jaarsveld issues urgent warning after his son reportedly lost most of his vision in a laser toy accident, urging parents to take …
