artifacts on my laser..

On my green laser there are small "artifacts" on the dot.. it wasnt like that when i got it but it just started doing it a day ago. They are small green dots around the halo. Does anyone know how to get rid of this?

It sounds to me like perhaps the lens where the laser beam exits the pointer may have become partially fouled and needs to be cleaned.

If a Q-tip or other cotton swab fits in the hole, try moistening it with alcohol (be *CERTAIN* that there is no glycerine in it - it will be shown on the bottle if glycerine is in there - cassette tape head or video tape head cleaner works very well for this purpose); clean the lens with the alcohol-moistened swab; then turn the swab over to the dry end or use a second swab if yours are not double-ended, and dry the lens with it.

Just my 2¢ here; individual results may vary.