KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS
- Phototoxicity is an inherent risk in how light interacts with the retina. These harmful effects are not only limited to high-intensity exposure such as sun gazing, but also present in ophthalmological procedures due to prolonged exposure to surgical lights.
- Maximum exposure times vary for anterior and posterior segment procedures, but generally, many procedures have the potential to cross exposure hazard thresholds.
- Surgical techniques and tools may have an effect on recommended exposure times, but their impact may be limited. Recent developments in visualization technology offer new tools for surgeons, allowing them to perform surgery at lower light settings while maintaining good visibility of the surgical field.
- Reduced light exposure can potentially offer other clinical benefits, such as quicker recovery of visual functions in the post-operative period.