Section 1 Safety
Copyright 2009, AMS, Proprietary Information, All Rights Reserved
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P/N 0010-0067, Rev A
Eye Injury
Visible light laser energy passes through the transparent components of the eye (cornea, lens,
aqueous and vitreous humor), and is focused on the retina. This light can cause an accidental
retinal burn. The degree of injury to the eye will depend upon the power of the beam, how focused
the beam is, and how long the eye is exposed to the beam.
Protective eyewear for the operating room staff and patient should be provided. Laser eyewear
may not be interchangeable between lasers of different wavelength, power or divergence angle.
WARNING:
It is required for everyone in the room to wear protective eyewear.
Eyewear has been designed to protect operating room personnel from the 532 nm laser energy.
The eyewear has a minimum optical density (OD) of 6.0 at 532 nm. These types of laser protective
eyewear include:
Nearly clear Physician Laser Glasses. The essentially clear lens material has very high visible
light transmission and minimal color distortion.
Orange Eye Protection Glasses. Although it has good visible light transmission, the orange
color of the plastic lens causes some color distortion.
Burns
Personnel using lasers should be knowledgeable of the fire hazards associated with laser use.
Accidental irradiation of tissue other than the target tissue may result in a burn or vaporization.
Surrounding the target area with moist drapes or saline-soaked sponges will keep it moist and
greatly reduce this hazard.
Flammable or combustible items in the laser environment may include: flammable liquids or
combustible ointments, gases, plastics, paper or gauze materials, adhesive or plastic tapes, and
endotracheal tubes.
Laser appropriate fire extinguishers and water should be available where lasers are utilized. Care
and precision in aiming and applying laser energy is of paramount importance.
WARNING:
Never use a clamp to secure the laser fiber to a drape. The use of a
clamp to secure a fiber may cause the fiber to bend at sharp angles
and damage the fiber. To do so can result in an unsafe condition. The
fiber can break and release laser energy causing a burn in the
protective jacket. If undetected, this condition will result in a burn or
ignition of flammable materials.
