Biomaterial Database

Potential laser hazards to the clinician during photocoagulation. 1987

D H Sliney, and M A Mainster

We measured reflected laser beams from seven different contact lenses used during laser photocoagulation to evaluate the potential hazards to the eyes of the clinician and bystanders. We found that although collimated beam reflections from the aiming beam of an argon laser photocoagulator could produce disability glare and discomfort to the laser operator (or to an individual viewing through the auxiliary eyepiece), the levels are not hazardous, by current occupational safety limits. Reflected laser light may exceed occupational exposure limits for momentary viewing by bystanders if they are within 1 meter of the laser contact lens.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007834	Lasers	An optical source that emits photons in a coherent beam. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) is brought about using devices that transform light of varying frequencies into a single intense, nearly nondivergent beam of monochromatic radiation. Lasers operate in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet, or X-ray regions of the spectrum.	Masers,Continuous Wave Lasers,Pulsed Lasers,Q-Switched Lasers,Continuous Wave Laser,Laser,Laser, Continuous Wave,Laser, Pulsed,Laser, Q-Switched,Lasers, Continuous Wave,Lasers, Pulsed,Lasers, Q-Switched,Maser,Pulsed Laser,Q Switched Lasers,Q-Switched Laser
D008028	Light Coagulation	The coagulation of tissue by an intense beam of light, including laser (LASER COAGULATION). In the eye it is used in the treatment of retinal detachments, retinal holes, aneurysms, hemorrhages, and malignant and benign neoplasms. (Dictionary of Visual Science, 3d ed)	Photocoagulation,Coagulation, Light,Coagulations, Light,Light Coagulations,Photocoagulations
D009885	Ophthalmology	A surgical specialty concerned with the structure and function of the eye and the medical and surgical treatment of its defects and diseases.	Ocular Surgery,Ocular Surgeries,Surgery, Ocular
D004869	Equipment Safety	Freedom of equipment from actual or potential hazards.	Device Safety,Hazards, Equipment,Medical Device Safety,Safety, Equipment,Device Safety, Medical,Safety, Medical Device,Equipment Hazard,Equipment Hazards,Hazard, Equipment,Safety, Device
D005123	Eye	The organ of sight constituting a pair of globular organs made up of a three-layered roughly spherical structure specialized for receiving and responding to light.	Eyes
D006280	Health Workforce	The availability of HEALTH PERSONNEL. It includes the demand and recruitment of both professional and allied health personnel, their present and future supply and distribution, and their assignment and utilization.	Health Manpower,Health Occupations Manpower,Manpower, Health,Manpower, Health Occupations,Workforce, Health
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012306	Risk	The probability that an event will occur. It encompasses a variety of measures of the probability of a generally unfavorable outcome.	Relative Risk,Relative Risks,Risk, Relative,Risks,Risks, Relative