Siddiqui MZ, Ellabban AA, Soliman MK, Gini G, Kurup S, Uwaydat SH, Sallam AB. Survey of the use of laser protective eyewear among international retina specialists: a European vitreoretinal society study.
BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2021;
6:e000647. [PMID:
33754128 PMCID:
PMC7938992 DOI:
10.1136/bmjophth-2020-000647]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
To report the trends for the use of eye protection methods during retinal laser in clinic and operating room.
Methods and analysis
Retrospective analysis of a 14-item survey questionnaire submitted to the European Vitreoretinal Society members.
Results
Responses from 630 members were analysed. Most of the respondents practised in Europe (52.7%), followed by North America (21.0%). The majority of respondents had laser filters in the microscope for the operating surgeon (92.1%), or used protective goggles (6.8%). Only 38.9% of respondents indicated that auxiliary staff in the operative room used protective goggles during laser treatment. Three-dimensional retina viewing system was used by only 22.5% of respondents, of those, 34.5% reported use of laser protection goggles by the operating surgeon. Rates of laser protection by auxiliary staff were 62.9% for indirect laser and 60.8% for slit lamp laser. We found a higher rate for use of laser protection by auxiliary staff in North America-based practices for endolaser (p<0.00001), laser indirect ophthalmoscope (p<0.00001) and slit lamp laser (p=0.00033) compared with the rest of the world.
Conclusion
The use of laser protection methods is routinely adopted by the physicians in the operating room and clinic, but less so by their assisting or auxiliary staff.
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