Product Code: JLA_16_3_178

Authors:
Wesley J. Marshall
U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5403

John Bell
Terabeam Corporation, Redmond, Washington

David H. Sliney
U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5403

Current laser safety standards overestimate retinal hazards when viewing optical fiber tips with magnifying aids. Methods for assessing optical hazards are based on laser beam characteristics and assume worst-case exposure to both the unaided eye and when using a variety of optical aids. These standard methods provide overly conservative results when assessing the increased risk of viewing an emitting fiber with commonly available magnifiers. A more accurate and simpler method could be used to assess the risks of optically aided viewing when examining fiber tips. © 2004 Laser Institute of America.