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Sensitivity to retinal light damage and surgical blood oxygen levels
L M Parver1, R Mitchard, W T Ham
1Retina Research Laboratory, Center for Sight, Washington, DC.
Annals of Ophthalmology
|October 1, 1989
Abstract:
Increased oxygen levels decrease the threshold for photochemical retinal damage. We measured arterial oxygen levels in a group of ophthalmic surgical patients. As expected, levels exceeded unanesthetized measurements by one to two times. Based on experimental data, this could decrease the threshold for light-induced retinal damage during ophthalmic surgery by 40% to 50%. While the clinical implications of light-induced retinal damage in surgical eye patients are unclear, it is prudent to take steps to minimize light exposure during surgery.