Baseline eye exam (before working with rechargeable laser pointer)
For people who are hired to work with lasers, a baseline eye exam may be useful.
The ANSI Z136.1 "Safe Use of Lasers" standard does not make this mandatory ("shall") but does say that it "should" be required for Rechargeable Laser Pointer personnel exposed to Class 3B and Class 4 lasers. Usually it is at the discretion of the company or institution whether to perform or require a baseline exam. Of course, anyone can make a personal appointment with an ophthalmologist to check the condition of their eyes and retina, and to have retinal photographs taken and retained.
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The baseline exam serves two purposes:
It can be "used to determine whether or not an individual is capable of working in a laser pointer 5000mw environment or if it would endanger them of completely losing sight." Quoting the optometry flight chief, “Let’s say that the best they could see during the initial test was 20/100 and they could only see monocularly for example. If something happened to the one good eye that they had, that’s it.”
If after working with the laser there is a laser exposure or the person develops vision problems, "[t]he previous documentation can help the clinic conclude what is wrong with the patient and can inform the doctor on what actions need to be taken to provide treatment."
2022-02-11 10:23:15
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