How safe is the light during ophthalmic diagnosis and surgery.

The light used when undertaking ophthalmic diagnosis or ophthalmic surgery can be hazardous and the need to address this from a clinical and practicable point of view is discussed. Not all patients are equally at risk. Age and health are risk factors that need to be taken into account, the aged eye being more at risk as is the eye with existing disease. The risk of photochemical damage to the retina is increased as a result of patients being examined with different ophthalmic instruments during a 24-h period. The ways in which the clinician needs to address these safety issues is discussed bearing in mind the guidelines that are being developed.