Category: Glasses

Fluoroscopy is a common x-ray diagnostic technique that generates a movie via x-ray. The movie created through fluoroscopy gives doctors and surgeons a greater visual picture of the internal structures of the patient, allowing them to see the actual functioning of their internal organs.

Fluoroscopy has technically existed since the 1890’s, just after the x-ray was discovered. Early fluoroscopes were very simple, comprised of little more than cardboard funnels that were opened at narrow ends for the eyes of observers, while the wide ends were closed using thin, cardboard pieces coated in fluorescent metal salt. Images obtained this way were very faint, requiring early radiologists to sit in a darkened room and let their eyes adjust, so as to be more sensitive to the faint light. It is in these darkened rooms that the procedure would be performed.

The technology behind fluoroscopy was further developed by Thomas Edison. Eventually, imaging became high quality enough to allow for the commercialization of fluoroscopes.

With the development of fluoroscopy x-ray diagnostics came the need for greater visual protection, and laser protective glasses are commonly used by doctors to ensure their visual safety. Although this is not a requirement of all surgical departments, laser protective glasses provide technicians, surgeons, and other people the protection they need while working close to fluoroscopes that emit high frequency radiation. In fact, a study published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) showed that “On average, the use of leaded glasses reduced radiation to the surgeon phantom’s eye by tenfold, a 90% reduction in dose”.

Laser Protective Glasses Will Protect Eyes During Surgery

Laser protective glasses provide a high level of protection to anyone who is working around powerful radiological equipment such as fluoroscopes. Eye protection is less of a concern for the patient, as the general public is only exposed to these levels of radiation on a relatively rare basis. However, doctors, surgeons, and technicians who are exposed to these levels of radiation on a consistent basis do require a higher degree of protection, as much of the danger of radiation exposure lies in the building up of doses over time.

Laser protective glasses help protect many different parts of your eyes that are sensitive to radiation, including:

• Retinal Blood Vessels: The tiny veins and arteries in the eye
• Conjunctiva: The mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye
• Lenses: The clear part of the eye that directs and focuses light
• Sclera: The white outer layer that comprises most of the visible eye
• Irises: The colored disc that surrounds the pupil

Consistent exposure to radiation can cause a number of problems, and one of the most common problems associated with vision is cardiac development. Cardiacs are a clouding of the lens, which is normally clear. While cataracts often occur naturally with age, radiation induced cataracts form on the back of the lens. Symptoms involved with radiation induced cataracts include:

• Cloudy or dim vision
• Seeing auras or “halos” around lights and objects
• Sensitivity to light
• Inability to see at night
• Colors begin to fade

Who Should Be Wearing Laser Protective Glasses?

Anyone who is working directly with technology that emits high frequency radiation should be wearing laser protective glasses, whether it is inside or outside of an operating theater. Dental assistant, surgeons, nurses, radiation technicians, and many other people require laser protective glasses for consistent eye protection, to mitigate radiation dosage over time, and to prevent possibly irreversible eye damage.

Forms of direct operating equipment one would work with that would require the use of laser protective glasses include:

• Fluoroscopes
• Interventional radiological equipment
• Digital x-rays
• Traditional x-rays
• CT image scanners

When it comes to personal protective equipment (PPE), the vast majority of medical facilities maintain strict regulations in terms of what equipment must be used, and when. It is never a bad idea to protect your eyesight, especially when working with high frequency radiation.

Why Laser Protective Glasses Are Required

A lot of radiation emitting equipment is operated directly, rather than from the safety of a remote, shielded room. Surgeons, surgical nurses, anesthesiologists, and many others work in close proximity to this equipment, and the proper use of laser protective glasses will greatly reduce radiation exposure to their eyes.

There are two things to consider when working with equipment that emits high frequency radiation. First is “primary beam radiation”. This is the concentrated and directed x-rays emitted from the equipment. It is obvious that anyone should limit their exposure to this kind of radiation as much as possible.

However, there is a secondary form of radiation that is less direct, called “scatter radiation”. This can be just as harmful as primary beam radiation. Scatter radiation is radiation that has bounced off of surface areas surrounding the equipment, including the patient, medical equipment, surgical team, and surrounding walls and furniture. Although the radiation is scattered out over a larger area, and the rays themselves have reduced in frequency, they are still dangerous.

Radiation can scatter a number of times off of a variety of different surfaces, meaning that a direct line of sight is not required for one to become exposed to radiation.

Laser protective glasses, as well as other forms of personal protective equipment, are essential when working with and around technology that emits high frequency radiation. Surgeon’s eyes are more susceptible to radiation exposure and damage while they are turned away from radiology equipment. High quality laser protective glasses will protect their eyes from both direct and scatter radiation when facing the scanning equipment, but larger styles of laser protective glasses with wrap-around sides will provide the maximum level of visual safety when you must be facing away from the equipment.

You Can Buy the Best Laser Protective Glasses from Kemper Medical

The most crucial factor to consider when buying laser protective glasses is the level of protection they provide. While factors such as style and comfort may very well be tempting things to consider – as glasses that do not meet these criteria are less likely to be worn consistently by professionals – they should not outweigh the importance of personal safety. Your level of visual safety should be the number one determining factor when it comes to purchasing laser protective glasses, and at Kemper Medical, you will find products that meet and exceed your safety requirements.

We offer a wide range of laser protective glasses at affordable prices. Whether you need prescription or non-prescription lenses, they are available at Kemper Medical, in order to ensure the proper radiological protection for anyone in the medical industry.

Kemper Medical carries the best brands available, giving you the protection you need at the prices you can afford.

Fluoroscopy is an x-ray imaging technique that is commonly used for diagnostic and surgical applications. Fluoroscopes use x-rays to create real-time, moving images that allow doctors and surgeons to see some of a patient’s internal structures and witness the function of some internal actions (e.g. swallowing and the heart’s beating.) The earliest fluoroscopes were developed in the 1890s, shortly after the discovery of x-rays. Fluoroscopes with better image quality that allowed them to become commercialized were developed by Thomas Edison — yes, that Thomas Edison — in the early 1900s. Of course, the intervening century has resulted in vast improvements in technique, image quality, and safety.

The use of fluoroscopic equipment, however, is still the primary reason for the use of leaded safety glasses in surgical settings. While their use isn’t required by all surgical departments, leaded surgical glasses can provide much needed protection for the eyes of surgeons, technicians, and others who must work in close proximity to radiation emitting fluoroscopes. One study on leaded eyeglasses published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) showed that “On average, the use of leaded glasses reduced radiation to the surgeon phantom’s eye by tenfold, a 90% reduction in dose.”

Leaded Safety Glasses Protect Eyes During Surgery

As you can see, the use of leaded safety glasses can be incredibly beneficial for those who must work directly with radiology equipment like fluoroscopes. Leaded glasses, prescription and non-prescription alike, can help protect the eyes of surgeons, radiation technicians, and more. Eye protection is critical because even small doses of radiation can add up over time and create serious health problems. Many different parts of the eye are susceptible to radiation damage, including:

• Irises – The round colored shape that surrounds the pupil
• Sclera – The white outer layer that makes up most of the visible eye
• Lenses – A clear part of the eye that is responsible for directing and focusing light
• Conjunctiva – A mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye
• Retinal Blood Vessels – Tiny veins and arteries inside the eye

The most common vision problem associated with repeated radiation exposure is the development of radiation induced cataracts — essentially a clouding of the normally clear lens. Unlike naturally occurring cataracts, cataracts caused by radiation exposure tend to form on the back of the lens. Loss of vision isn’t always the first or even the primary symptom for patients in the early stages of cataract development. Some symptoms to look out for include cloudy or dim vision, “halos” appearing around lights, increased sensitivity to glare or light, difficulty seeing at night, faded colors, and a frequent need to update corrective prescriptions.

Who Should Wear Leaded Surgical Glasses?

Leaded surgical glasses should be worn by anyone who works directly with any type of radiation emitting equipment inside or outside of an operating theater. This includes surgeons, radiation technicians, nurses, dental assistants, and others. Leaded safety glasses can protect the eyes of these types of medical professionals from irreversible damage.

The types of equipment that necessitate the use of leaded surgical glasses include any CT image scanners, traditional x-rays, digital x-rays, interventional radiology equipment, or fluoroscopes that must be operated directly. Most medical facilities have very specific regulations in place regarding who is required to wear personal protective equipment like leaded safety glasses and when that safety equipment must be used. In our opinion, however, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Especially when it comes to your eyesight.

Why Leaded Surgical Glasses Are Necessary

Because of how they are used, fluoroscopes and other radiation emitting equipment used during surgery are generally operated directly rather than from a shielded control room. They also tend to be used in close proximity to surgeons, surgical nurses, anesthesiologists, and other members of the surgical team. These medical professionals should wear leaded surgical glasses to dramatically reduce radiation exposure to their eyes.

When talking about x-rays, primary beam radiation refers to the directed x-rays that are emitted by the equipment. Everyone know that they need to limit their exposure to this direct x-ray radiation. What many people don’t realize is that indirect or “scatter” radiation can be just as harmful as direct exposure. X-rays and other harmful radiation can bounce off of different surfaces including the patient, medical equipment, and surgical team. This scatters the radiation over a wider area, and indirect exposure is still dangerous. X-rays can scatter multiple times off of different surfaces, which means that line of sight isn’t even necessary for radiation exposure to occur.

When you must work directly with radiology equipment, personal protective equipment including leaded safety glasses are critical for protecting your eyes and vision. As a surgical professional, you should know that your eyes are more susceptible to radiation damage when your head is turned away from the radiology equipment. High quality leaded glasses, prescription and non-prescription, are quite effective at protecting your eyes from both scatter and primary beam radiation when you are facing the scanning equipment. However, if you must be turned away from the equipment during scanning — e.g. looking at a monitor in a surgical setting — you may want to invest in a larger style of leaded safety glasses that wrap around the sides and offer you extra protection. Remember, even low doses of radiation can add up to long term eye damage.

Buy the Best Leaded Safety Glasses From Kemper Medical

It may be tempting to use style and comfort as your only guidance when you select and buy leaded surgical glasses. That temptation is understandable because medical professionals who don’t like how their safety glasses look or who find them uncomfortable are far less likely to wear them as consistently as they should. Nevertheless, the type of protection you need should also be a determining factor so that your eyes are as safe as possible.

Here at Kemper Medical, we offer you a wide range of affordable leaded glasses. Prescription and non-prescription lenses are available to ensure that everyone can have the protection they deserve. To put it simply, you can buy cheap leaded safety glasses that still maintain a high level of quality. We carry the best brands in the industry and offer you the best prices so that you can afford the protection you need.

Don’t wait another day! Check out our selection of Leaded Surgical Glasses today so that you can find the perfect protection for you and your eyes.