They are available in small incremental strengths to enable surgeons to leave patients as close to their perfect prescription as possible. Moistened gauze, however, was much more resistant to ignition, and there was no perforation of the gauze after 3 passes (Video, available online at www. Our discussion is, therefore, limited to our site’s experiences and recommendations, based on standard-of-care guidelines, such as those produced by ANSI, and OSHA regulations.

It is common practice in some healthcare facilities to place gauze under external eye shields or use gauze alone over eyes during laser procedures. Its use during facial laser procedures creates a fire hazard and poses a significant risk to both the patient and the laser operator. An intraocular lens (IOL) is an artificial lens that is implanted into your eye to help improve your vision. Mr Lindfield currently sees private patients at Farnham Eye Care and Guildford Eye Care, which is based at the Royal Surrey County Hospital.In addition to the issue of maintaining moisture throughout treatment, ANSI notes that wet eye pads are not appropriate for all wavelengths. The “retinal hazard zone” spans from 400 to 1400 nm and includes visible light (400-780 nm) as well as the near-infrared region (780-1400 m). Many of us wear corrective lenses to enable us to see clearly for distance, intermediate or near activities. Due to the extreme risk of having dry gauze present within the treatment area, as highlighted in these 2 studies, it is our belief that clinicians should avoid the use of dampened gauze pads under protective eyewear altogether.

We usually operate on both eyes 1-2 weeks apart, but both eyes on the same day is sometimes performed if deemed the best thing for your needs and can be standard practice for some surgeons.In addition, we highlight the current recommendations for proper eyewear during laser use outlined in the American National Standards Institute standard Z136. The nominal hazard zone (NHZ) is the “space within which the level of direct, reflected, or scattered radiation during normal operation exceeds the applicable MPE. Christine E Wamsley, John Hoopman, Jeffrey M Kenkel, Safety Guidelines Concerning the Use of Protective Eyewear and Gauze During Laser Procedures, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 41, Issue 10, October 2021, Pages 1179–1185, https://doi. The glasses I choose to wear are from the RNIB – However, there are a lot of other companies and organisation out there providing both Wrap Arounds and Fit Overs. Yellow tint blocks out ultra violet (UV) and blue light, but lets in a high percentage of other light.

Instead, it defers to the standards outlined by ANSI and the Center for Devices and Radiological Health branch of the Food and Drug Administration. Finally, although it is common in some healthcare facilities to place gauze under external eye shields or use gauze alone over eyes during laser procedures, this practice poses an extreme risk to both patients and healthcare personnel. In general, the longer the wavelength emitted, the higher the MPE, and the longer the exposure time, the lower the MPE. It should be noted that the retina does not contain pain receptors and cannot perceive wavelengths greater than 780 nm, the high end of the visible light spectrum.

Instead, the focus should be on acquiring properly fitting eyewear that provides adequate protection and comfort to the patient.

Cataracts are also a potential hazard caused by near-ultraviolet wavelengths (315-400 nm), as they can also pass through the cornea and be absorbed by the lens. These include the transition from UV to visible light (around 400 nm) and from near-infrared to mid-infrared light (around 1300 nm). Each increase in OD will reduce the transmittance, and therefore exposure, at a specific wavelength by a factor of 10. Whilst hearing positive or negative opinions from your friends or family is useful, it’s very difficult to draw parallels for such a precise decision targeted to your specific needs.Kenkel, Department of Plastic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 1801 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75390-9132, USA. Class 2 lasers emit energy in the visible light spectrum (400-700 nm), but do not emit radiant energy greater than 1 mW.