powerful laser pens.

The pens, which are used for presentations and displays, are on sale in shops around Bermuda and can cause permanent eye damage if used improperly.

Schoolchildren are already thought to have obtained the pens -- which emit a concentrated beam of light -- and there are concerns that they will flash them in people's eyes.

And one school, Saltus, which has not had a problem with them, has already banned the pens before they become an issue.

The fears were raised initially by optometrist Tony Siese and were acted upon immediately by the Phoenix Stores, who issued a strict warning to staff on who the pens should be sold to.

And they were backed up by the Chamber of Commerce retail section, who called on all of their members to examine their policy on the goods.

Mr. Siese said he was alerted to possible problems by concerned parents, who said there was evidence students were using the pens in a dangerous way.

"These lights are of a very high intensity and can reach quite a distance -- as much as a mile,'' he said. "Children don't always respect the dangers, that they could cause damage which could be permanent to the back of the eye.

"It is similar to an eclipse of the sun. It could affect someone within 24 hours. They could get blurred vision. It would damage your central vision which is critical for reading or writing.'' Mr. Siese said retailers should consider withdrawing the pens from sale or at least restricting who they are sold to.

George Grundmuller, president of the Phoenix Stores, which is only one of many stores selling the pens, said they had instructed managers on selling the items.

"We won't sell them to children and also when somebody doesn't look sixteen,'' he said.

But he added: "We will sell them. There is a demand.'' Some students use the pens for their college work and the store couldn't be responsible if children got their hands on the pens by other means, he said.

Peter Cooper, chairman of the retail section of the Chamber of Commerce, added his voice, saying all stores should be careful who they sell the instruments to.