Safety aspects of laser scanning ophthalmoscopes.
Safety standards such as American National Standards Institute Z-136.1 do not give clear light-level limitations for laser scanning ophthalmoscopes. To have more than a rough estimation the retinal temperature rise due to intraocular scanning laser illumination was calculated on the basis of a thermal model. The predicted temperature development with time was compared with the calculated effect of other retinal illumination patterns with well-known hazard risks. The similarity of the thermal effect of retinal scanning and extended-source pulsed illumination is discussed and used to give maximum permissible light-level recommendations for the safe use of laser scanning ophthalmoscopes.
Klingbeil
U
U
Rodenstock Instrumente GmbH, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.
D001831:Body Temperature; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008954:Models, Biological; D019721:Ophthalmoscopes; D012160:Retina