Potential ocular hazard from a surgical light source.

A surgical light source has been examined to determine the potential for retinal damage to staff in the operating theatre. It has been shown that under certain circumstances the light source examined can give an irradiance at the cornea which is well in excess of accepted safety standards. Calculation using data on the retinal irradiance required to produce retinal damage indicates that for an accidental exposure at a distance of 500 mm there is a significant possibility of retinal damage. At closer distances the probability of retinal damage is even higher. It is possible that other surgical light sources produce a similar degree of hazard and hospitals should establish suitable safety measures where necessary.