title: Using argon laser blue light reduces ophthalmologists' color contrast sensitivity. Argon blue and surgeons' vision.
abstract: Color contrast sensitivity was measured in laser operators before and after laser use. After argon blue-green laser treatment sessions, sensitivity was reduced for colors lying along a tritan color-confusion line for several hours. This acute effect is due to specular "flash-backs" from the aiming beam off the surface of the contact lens. It is caused only by argon 488-nm light, when the aiming beam intensity is high. In addition, a correlation has been demonstrated between the number of years of laser experience and a chronic reduction in tritan color contrast sensitivity. It is suggested that repeated acute changes caused by the argon lasers may cause cumulative effects and produce a chronic threshold elevation. A simple method of eliminating the acute effect is documented.
authors: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England.
authors: T A
authors: TA
authors: Berninger
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Canning
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Gündüz
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Strong
authors: G B
authors: GB
authors: Arden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003119:Color Perception Tests; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000209:etiology*; D003261:Contact Lenses; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology; D013997:Time Factors