If the patient is being treated using a slit-lamp, I don't think there is
a significant risk to the fellow eye.

Harry Moseley

Date sent:              Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:40:07 +0100
Send reply to:          British Medical Laser Association <[log in to unmask]>
From:                   Bill Davies <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Re: Nd-YAG Safety & Wet eye pads
To:                     [log in to unmask]

> Colm
> Yes the nurse should wear goggles.
> What about using an opaque eye shield and just seat it comfortably over
> the eye.
> Any light "leakage" is not going to be significant.
> Wet pads are great where CO2 lasers are used hwich is often the case
> for ENT upper airway surgery.
> Bill Davies
> Swansea
>
> >>> [log in to unmask] 04/26/02 08:16am >>>
> Dear all
>
> What is the experience of list members in relation to eye safety of
> staff
> and members of the public accompanying patients for treatment in an
> outpatient ophthalmic clinic. The laser in question is a Nd-YAG Class
> 3B
> laser (1064nm) mounted on a slit lamp with max. output of 25mJ and a
> pulse
> rate of 7nsec. In most circumstances there is only the patient and
> ophthalmologist in the room. But if a nurse is asked to hold the head
> of the
> patient should she be wearing goggles?  I believe so!
>
> Secondly, during ophthalmic laser surgery the fellow eye is normally
> tapped
> shut and a surgical drape covers the entire face except for the eye
> being
> operated on. A practice (rather controversially) has developed where
> moistened eye pads are taped to the fellow/unaffected eye under the
> drape.
> Question is, is this necessary? It increases prep time and also the
> possibility of infection. It is stated in most standards that wet
> gamgee/pads should be placed around surgical sites especially in ENT
> surgery, does this also apply to ophthalmic surgery as in this case.
> What is
> the experience of other members?
>
> All comments appreciated
>
> Thank you
> Colm Saidléar
>
> The Children's University Hospital, &
> Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin.
>
>
>
>
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Dr Harry Moseley
Consultant Medical Physicist
The Photobiology Unit
University of Dundee
Ninewells Hospital & Medical School
Dundee DD1 9SY
United Kingdom

Tel. (0)1382 632240
Fax. (0)1382 646047