Potential ocular damage from microwave exposure during electrosurgery: dosimetric survey.

A dosimetric survey of microwave radiation emitted by electrosurgical units used in operating rooms indicated that surgeons expose themselves to levels that may be hazardous, and that ocular exposures are especially high: 20 cm from the active lead, electric field strength at the eye/forehead position was 9.0 X 10(6) V2/M2 for the monopolar unit; and magnetic field strength at this position reached a magnitude of 3.5 A2/M2. These electric and magnetic fields exceeded the TLVs of the American National Standards Institute. The authors concluded that the high levels of microwave radiation generated by electrosurgery devices should receive immediate attention to assess health effects associated with such exposures.