Use Of Goggles Research Articles

Sunbed use in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The objectives were to survey tanning salons in a defined geographic area of Buenos Aires city and to assess the information offered to consumers regarding chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation, types of radiation used, and safety measures employed. A prospective study using a standardized interview with limited multiple choice responses for data collection was conducted. Results of the interview survey were that 35% of the establishments (tanning salons) said they used UVA exclusively, 6% UVB, and 25% both; 35% did not know the type of radiation to which their clients were exposed. Sunbeds were promoted as healthy in 56% of the tanning salons, whereas potential risks were mentioned in only 15%. One to 3 sessions on the same day were allowed by 84%, while 40% allowed customers to choose the number of weekly sessions. The use of goggles was optional in 65% of the establishments and 21% did not even provide goggles. Use of sunscreens was not compulsory, and none of the salons had associated physicians. Previous history of skin cancer, sunburn or potential photosensitive drug intake were never recorded, and the age of access was not restricted in 71% of the establishments. In Argentina there are no guidelines to regulate the operation of tanning salon establishments or the equipment they use, and there are no specific measures taken to prevent skin and ocular pathologies. Ways to reduce the risks of ocular and skin pathologies from artificial tanning in Argentina are urgently needed.

Compliance with universal precautions and needle handling and disposal practices among emergency department staff at two community hospitals

Background: To describe rates of needle disposal and barrier use within the emergency departments at two privately owned community hospitals in two suburbs of Minneapolis, a study was conducted. This study consisted of direct observation of a cohort of emergency department personnel providing patient care followed by a self-administered survey of the same personnel. Methods: From June through August 1990, seven specially trained registered nurses observed emergency department personnel for a total of 400 hours. The observers documented the appropriate rates of use of gowns, goggles, masks, and gloves. Observers also noted methods of needle disposal and frequency of needle recapping. After observation, surveys that included items requesting estimates of -rates of use for each barrier, as well as estimates of the rates and methods of needle recapping and disposal, were distributed. For each observed and corresponding self-reported behavior, 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared. Results: A total of 1822 procedures were recorded. Gloves were observed to be used when appropriate 67.2% of the time, followed by goggles (50.7%), masks (16.0%), and gowns (15.3%). Self-reported barrier rates were slightly higher in all cases except for goggle use. About one third (34.4%) of the needles were recapped; 78.1% of these were recapped two-handed. Conclusions: Previous studies have documented low universal precautions compliance rates at urban teaching hospitals. Our data indicate less than optimal levels of compliance also at community hospitals, and show that personnel are less than fully aware of their own noncompliance.

The incidence and prevention of ocular injuries in orthodontic practice.

A postal survey was conducted to determine the use of eye protection and incidence of ocular trauma in orthodontic practice. One-hundred-and-fifty-nine NHS orthodontic consultants and 203 specialist orthodontic practitioners were surveyed. Two-hundred-and-forty-one (66.5 per cent) replies were received. Some form of eye protection was routinely worn by 66.8 per cent of orthodontists, 64.3 per cent of patients, but only 33.6 per cent of DSAs. Eye protection was not offered to DSAs in 31.9 per cent of practices or to patients in 22.1 per cent. Forty-three per cent of orthodontists reported instances of ocular injury in their practices. The majority of these injuries (n = 104) occurred during debonding or trimming acrylic. Other incidents involved ligating materials, intra-oral polishing, and acid etching. Most injuries (83.5 per cent) were treated in the surgery without any long-term effects. The routine use of goggles or spectacles with side-pieces and plastic lenses, which conform to British Standard BS 2092, is recommended for staff and patients during all operative procedures in orthodontic practice.

Ocular trauma: one in the eye for safety glasses.

Over a 3-month-period, a prospective study was performed on patients presenting with eye injuries to an Accident and Emergency Department. Two hundred and forty-five patients presented, representing 3.7% of total new patients seen in that period. The majority of injuries (81%) occurred in the workplace, injuries associated with grinding (32%) being the commonest. Retained foreign body (52%) was the most common injury. Eye protection was provided in 64% of cases, but only used in 48.5% of these. Seventy-eight per cent of cases were discharged without follow-up. The use of goggles appeared to provide the greatest degree of protection.

Inducing Myopia, Hyperopia, and Astigmatism in Chicks

Myopia and hyperopia have been produced in chicks by applying specially designed convex and concave soft contact lenses to the eyes of newly hatched birds. After 2 weeks of wear, the eyes develop refractive states equivalent in sign and amount (+8 and -10 D) to the lens used. However, the lenses produce an artificial hyperopic shift during the first week of wear due to corneal flattening. We have developed a new approach involving the use of goggles with hard convex and concave contact lens inserts placed between the frontal and lateral visual fields. Myopia and hyperopia (+10 and -10 D) can be produced within days (4 days for hyperopia and 7 days for myopia) if the defocus is applied from the day of hatching. We can also produce significant amounts of astigmatism (1 to 5 D) axis at 90 degrees and 180 degrees by using cylindrical contact lens inserts. Although these last results are preliminary, they suggest that accommodation is not likely involved at this stage of refractive development because we do not believe that the accommodative mechanism can cope with cylindrical defocus. All spherical refractive errors produced using the goggle system appear to result from alterations in vitreous chamber depth.

Nosocomial infections in the pediatric patient: An update

Substantial progress has been made in measuring the burden of nosocomial infection in pediatric patients, particularly in certain populations (e.g., critical care, immunocompromised, chronic care, and patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and after certain procedures (e.g., central catheter lines and open-sternum cardiovascular surgery). Preventive measures, such as the use of goggles, gowns, and gloves, have been subjected to new and additional study. The following report is a summary of recent progress. A review of factors responsible for infection in various patient care populations and settings and recommendations for control are presented.

Eye Injury During 'War Games' Despite the Use of Goggles

To the Editor. —It was with great interest that we read the case report by Drs Ryan and Lissner 1 regarding eye injuries during games. Of particular interest was the fact that there have been no reported injuries to the eyes when the participant has been wearing protective eye gear. We recently treated a patient in whom significant ocular injury occurred when protective eye gear was worn. Report of a Case. —A 24-year-old man presented for treatment of a paint pellet injury to the right eye that occurred while playing the war game Survival . He stated that he was wearing the safety goggles that were provided for his use and that he was standing on a hill when his assailant fired upward from a range of approximately 10 to 15 yd. The paint pellet struck the inferior portion of the goggles, driving the right goggle over the orbital rim

The use of goggles for testing hemispheric asymmetry

A technique for restricting visual stimuli to a single visual field was validated in the present study. Vertical strips of opaque tape were applied to close-fitting goggles, obscuring one visual field on each lens. Forty-seven right-handed participants fitted with such goggles were found to be faster and more accurate in processing verbal stimuli presented to the right visual field than to the left. For a spatial task, accuracy was better and reaction times were shorter when stimuli were presented to the left visual field. Results indicate that the taped goggles were successful enough in restricting input to a single visual field to replicate typical laterality effects.