Absolutely! We have had several expensive broadcast cameras that have CCD block imagers damaged to a point that they needed replacement. What happens is that the high energy focused laser beam heats up the surface of the imager so much that it changes the sensitivity on the affected area of the picture. Actual damage shooting around lasers depend upon how powerful they are, how focused and how long the block is subjected.

Unfortunately the CCD blocks have to be replaced when damaged. Costs range from a thousand dollars with a prosumer camcorder, five to fifteen thousand for a broadcast camera, to twenty five thousand plus for a high definition camera.

Be wary of not only high-powered industrial or medical lasers, but small ones as well. If you have to shoot in that environment DO NOT allow the laser to be directed at the camera lens, or reflected into it. Better to be safe than sorry.