When operating devices, it is extremely important to be knowledgeable about ocular safety, primarily which laser safety eyewear to use in order to prevent damage to the eye.
There are three main chromophores for devices — water, hemoglobin and melanin. Depending on the wavelength, each is absorbed by the devices by different degrees. Ten degrees of heat can destroy retinal photoreceptor cells. Each device comes with specific eyewear for the provider. For the patient, the provider must have the appropriate shield available.
For the patient: if using the device on the eyelids, corneal shields should be worn. Stainless steel shields are buffed and electropolished so that they won’t conduct heat. When using radiofrequency, the plastic shields can be used. In either case, make sure the edges do not have any scratches that would scrape the cornea. Also, ensure that the patient’s eyes are healthy and that they have not had recent corneal surgery or trauma. If using the device outside of the orbital rims, external shields can be used, either in the form of wrap-arounds, or stick on shields.
For the provider and everyone else in the room, the correct goggles must be chosen. The two main parameters that need attention are optical density (OD) and visual light transmission (VLT). Optical density refers to the amount of light that is allowed to pass through the lens. An OD of 1 means that 0.1 percent of light will be allowed to pass through the lens. An OD of 2 means that 0.001 percent of the light will pass through, etc. That means at an OD of 6, only one millionth of the light will pass, basically protecting against direct beam exposure. Most goggles will have the wavelength of light that they protect against and the OD engraved on the side. VLT is the amount of visible light that passes through the lens. The higher the VLT, the better the visualization.
It is extremely important to choose the correct goggles for prevention of eye injuries, as both lasers and lights can have grave complications that affect vision permanently.
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