A research team at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, have made discoveries that may make the ability to shoot laser beams from eyes a reality.

Lasers on the eye – ocular lasers – may now be possible with the development of an ultra-thin membrane laser using organic semiconductors. They could be harnessed for new applications in security, biophotonics and photomedicine.

The team comprising of Professors Malte Gather, Ifor Samuel and Graham Turnbull were also able to demonstrate ocular lasing using the cow eye as a model system.

They also explained that the threshold of their membrane lasers is compatible with the requirements for safe operation in the human eye.