24.5.1 Occupational Exposure Limits Relevant MPEs or ELs for lasers of interest are given in Table 24.1, and are specified at the corneal plane. If the laser beam is less than 7 mm in diameter, it is assumed that the entire beam could enter the dark-adapted pupil, and one can express the maximal safe power […]

Laser eye protectors provide the principal means to assure against ocular injury from the direct or reflected laser beams in the operating room [1,30,31]. Although viewing optics in some surgical specialties may inherently protect the eyes of the laser operator, there are seldom viewing optics in cosmetic applications. If viewing optics are employed during the […]

Service personnel are particularly susceptible to ocular injury since they often gain access to collimated laser beams from the laser cavity itself, or by opening up the beam – delivery optics and gaining access to collimated laser beams prior to the beam focusing optics or fiber-optic beam-delivery system. Once the laser beam leaves the delivery […]

Bystanders in the spa facility or medical treatment facility who are present to observe or to calm the patient (e. g., a patient’s relative) may be susceptible to exposure from reflected laser beams in the same manner as the professional staff. In addition, because of lack of training or knowledge about the laser surgical procedure, […]

Nurses, technicians and other assisting family or staff are potentially exposed to misdi­rected laser beams. Lasers and IPLs have been accidentally initiated when the beam-deliv­ery system was directed other than at the patient, a foot switch was accidentally pressed, or similar errors have occurred, and the beam has been directed at a person. Accidental firing […]

The IEC safety document [11] defines the laser operator as “the person who handles the laser equipment. In general, the laser operator controls the delivery of the laser radiation to the working area. The laser operator may appoint other person(s), who assist with the selec­tion and/or setting of the parameters”. Because some had interpreted the […]

Remitted light is the laser or IPL energy that leaves the skin after internal scattering, and gives the special opalescent tones characteristic of skin. This light is frequently observed around contact applicators and has raised concerns that retinal hazards may exist when individuals view this light surrounding the treatment site when delivering high-intensity light or […]

An examination of laser-accident records indicates that the source of accidental ocular exposure of the laser operator and staff is most frequently a reflected beam. Figure 24.4 illustrates the types of mirror-like (specular) laser-beam reflections that can occur from flat or curved specular surfaces, which are characteristic of metallic instruments used in other surgical procedures, […]

No one questions the need to protect the eye during periorbital surgery. However, the most appropriate means of protection and standardized requirements have been the subject of some debate. The treatment of the facial tissue near the eye can potentially expose ocular tissues to scattered laser radiation that has been internally diffusely scattered around optical […]