1 Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
2 Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
J Endourol. 2019 Feb;33(2):146-150. doi: 10.1089/end.2018.0432. Epub 2018 Nov 29.
The holmium laser is used increasingly for a wide array of urological procedures. Laser safety goggles are mandatory at many centers for individuals within the nominal hazard zone, as set out by the institution. Recent ex vivo studies suggest standard eye wear may be equally as protective. We sought to evaluate the perceptions and practice patterns of laser safety goggles in urology.
A 24-question survey was sent out through e-mail to an international e-mail list of ∼2000 urologists that were members of the Endourological Society. Data were collected anonymously using Survey Monkey.
A total of 264 (14%) urologists completed the survey. Thirty-four percent worked in the community, whereas 63% worked at an academic institution. Ninety-seven percent routinely used the holmium laser. The most common uses were lithotripsy (99%), tissue incision (71%), tumor ablation (58%), and prostate ablation (26%). Formal laser training and institutional laser safety policies were reported in 76% and 64%, respectively. Forty percent of respondents routinely wore laser safety goggles. Laser adverse events were witnessed by 19%, but there were no eye injuries reported. Seventy percent of surgeons felt that laser safety goggles may impair their vision. When presented with the information that regular eye glasses may be as effective as laser goggles for preventing harm, the majority (86%) would opt for regular eye wear.
Laser safety eyewear practice patterns vary greatly. Many centers have adopted policies for universal mandatory laser goggles in the operating room. With over two thirds of surgeons suggesting laser goggles impair their vision, and recent literature suggesting regular eye wear is equivalent in preventing laser-associated eye injuries, laser goggle safety policies should be updated to better match the potential hazards inherent to the device.
钬激光被越来越多地应用于广泛的泌尿科手术。许多中心都要求在机构规定的名义危险区域内的人员佩戴激光安全护目镜。最近的离体研究表明，标准眼镜可能同样具有保护作用。我们旨在评估泌尿科医生对激光安全护目镜的看法和使用模式。
通过电子邮件向国际泌尿外科协会成员的约 2000 名泌尿科医生发送了一份包含 24 个问题的调查。使用 Survey Monkey 匿名收集数据。
共有 264 名（14%）泌尿科医生完成了调查。34%的医生在社区工作，而 63%的医生在学术机构工作。97%的医生常规使用钬激光。最常见的用途是碎石术（99%）、组织切割（71%）、肿瘤消融（58%）和前列腺消融（26%）。分别有 76%和 64%的医生报告了常规的激光培训和机构激光安全政策。40%的受访者常规佩戴激光安全护目镜。19%的医生目睹了激光不良事件，但没有报告眼部损伤。70%的外科医生认为激光安全护目镜可能会影响他们的视力。当向他们提供常规眼镜可能与激光护目镜一样有效预防伤害的信息时，大多数（86%）医生会选择常规眼镜。
激光安全护目镜的使用模式差异很大。许多中心已在手术室采用了普遍强制性佩戴激光护目镜的政策。由于超过三分之二的外科医生认为激光护目镜会影响他们的视力，而且最近的文献表明，常规眼镜在预防激光相关眼部损伤方面同样有效，因此应更新激光护目镜安全政策，以更好地适应设备固有的潜在危害。
