Laser Safety in Laser Surgery

Abstract

Lasers used for surgery and for some other biomedical applications can pose potential hazards to both the patient and the laser operating personnel. Because the laser beam is normally in the open when emitted from a surgical laser, special precautions are necessary. Unlike many industrial application of lasers, the very nature of most laser surgical procedures require both a flexible and often an open beam and the use of administrative controls with protective eyewear rather than engineering controls such as beam enclosures, baffles, etc. The potential for hazardous exposure to laser radiation can therefore be quite high for some surgical personnel[1,2,3].