10 Features to Consider When Purchasing Surgical Eye Loupes for Your Operating Room

Surgical eye loupes – small magnifying glasses that fit inside the lens of an eyeglass – can bring great benefits to your surgical team, especially during complex or lengthy procedures that require accurate attention to detail. If selected and calibrated correctly, surgical magnifiers can be an important extension to the surgical team without causing distraction or interfering with the task at hand. Overall, magnifying glasses can prevent your surgical team from working in crouching, uncomfortable positions that can then lead to chronic pain in the neck and lower back.

1. Magnification

With the right magnification, your team can work at a good distance and achieve ergonomic balance. This will help reduce eye strain, neck, shoulder and back strain, and even headaches associated with poor ergonomics. The correct magnification will allow your team to see the surgical site clearly and closely, resulting in improved accuracy and accuracy. The magnification of surgical magnifiers is usually determined by personal preference, so give your team ample opportunity to try various advantages and sizes before placing an order. Comfortable magnification setting will result in a wide field of view. Anyone using a surgical magnifier should use the lowest magnification possible to make the adjustment to the magnifier more seamless.

As a general rule, magnification rates of 2.5 to 3.5 are appropriate for most microsurgery procedures – however, for complex procedures, especially those involving tendon and vascular repair, magnification levels of 4.5 and 5.5 May be more helpful and provide greater accuracy. Magnification higher than 6.0 is usually not recommended – at this level, surgical microscopes better serve the user.

Thaler Instruments is a professional manufacturer of high precision machining and optical instruments. Thaler Instruments manufactures medical instruments, microscopes and Zeiss planetarium equipment and is used around the world. Thaler Instruments provides the following guidelines for surgical magnifiers.

2.5x: Entry-level magnification provides wide field of view, i.e

It’s very easy to get used to. It’s a common magnification. Typical working distance: 13.4 “(340mm)

3.0x: Medium magnification level is suitable for users who are familiar with magnifying glasses or need additional magnification that 2.5 times power cannot provide. Typical working distance: 16.5 “(420mm)

3.5x: More powerful than a 3.0x surgical magnifier, this magnification level is intended for specialists and users working in smaller fields. Long working distance is generally used by tall people. Typical working distance: 19.7 “(500mm)

2. Working distance

The right magnification can also help your team set a comfortable working distance between the eye and the actual surgical site. In better working conditions, the back should be straight and the surgeon should not lean forward to get a clear view of the operation site. Proper distance is crucial – the wrong working distance can lead to poor posture, leading to fatigue and back pain as well as eye strain.

Magnification will also help define the field of view – the area of focus visible through a magnifying glass. Your team needs as wide a field of view as possible so that you don’t have to move your head to get a clear view of the work area.

One of the greater benefits of using a surgical magnifying glass is an improvement in ergonomics. When your team is engaged in tight, detail-oriented work, they can do it while maintaining health and comfortable posture. If used properly, surgical magnifiers can allow your team to work without bending forward or staying in an unnatural position for long periods of time. Ergonomic factors such as neck tilt, better patient position, pelvic tilt, eye tilt, elbow Angle, and knee Angle can be supported by high-quality surgical magnifiers with the correct working distance. A magnifying glass expert can also help guide you through the process, especially if he or she is also trained in ergonomics.

3. The weight

Magnifying lenses need to be worn comfortably for a long time. Your team may need to wear surgical magnifying glasses for lengthy and complex procedures – so the lighter they are, the more comfortable they will be for your team. Lighter magnifying glasses also reduce tension and other related complications. Make sure to test the framework carefully; High quality frames distribute weight evenly across the bridge of the nose and around the user’s ears.

4.Design

There are two key designs for surgical eye magnifiers: lens (TTL) and flip type. The TTL version’s optics are built into the frame’s lens, while the flip magnifier’s optics are connected to an adjustable mechanism that allows the user to manually flip the magnifier when not in use. TTL versions are generally more comfortable and allow for higher performance and ease of use. Higher quality TTL versions can be specially designed to suit the user’s face size, prescription needs and personalized magnification. Conversely, flipped versions are more readily available. Over-the-counter magnifying glasses do offer benefits that can be shared between users, and they are also easy to adjust while allowing for angular variation.

Magnification of up to 2.8 is usually made using Galileo designs, which have a set of two lenses: a concave eyepiece lens and a convex objective lens. This version is lightweight and offers seamless adaptability, wide field width and good depth of field. Higher magnification of 3.5-6.0 can be manufactured according to Galileo or Kepler designs with two or more orthoconvex lenses.

Some surgical magnifiers use a motion frame to provide the medical team with additional eye protection from splashes and debris.

5. Adjust the settings

The distance between the pupils, width and depth of field Settings are key when viewing the surgical area through a magnifying glass. While the field depth determines how far the user can tilt or tilt and remain in focus, the field width specifies the overall size of the operation site. Working distance is an important factor to consider – many magnifying glasses are designed for specific working distance ranges that can limit your team. In general, the lower the magnification, the wider the field of view and the greater the depth of field. Magnifying glass Settings should be intuitive and stress-free for your team to adjust. It is important to remember that proper installation and adjustment are essential for the successful use of a surgical magnifier. You may consider designing custom surgical magnifiers for your surgeon based on these considerations.

6. Lighting ability

Your surgical magnifier and operating room lighting need to work together. For higher magnification, additional lighting is essential. We have physics to thank – when narrow light enters the eye, the field of vision naturally appears darker. The higher the magnification, the less light enters the eye, increasing the need for additional lighting.

For example, when using LED lighting, the user’s pupils naturally dilate, which reduces the depth of field when using surgical magnifying glasses. In many cases, LED lighting is considered mandatory when higher levels of magnification are used; In fact, many experts believe leds are essential at any magnification.

Auxiliary lights should be of appropriate intensity and color. Too bright a light will cause the eye bar to close without any benefit, while too dark a light will not keep up with the increase in magnification. Fortunately, new LED systems are on the market now, and they are very portable and cheaper than previous generations. Some lights can be used as headlight versions, while others can be connected directly to a binocular surgical magnifying glass. With this option, you need to consider the weight of the light in combination with the magnifying glass to get the user’s overall comfort. You will need to make decisions based on charging time, working time, and whether the lamp will work when charging, in order to purchase a better surgical lighting to match your surgical magnifier.

7. Prescription demand

You can choose a surgical magnifier with a built-in prescription lens – or the user can wear the contact lens while wearing an over-the-counter magnifier. If you choose to go the prescription route, you need to make sure your team has a chance to get an updated eye exam before ordering any magnifying glasses, as changes in vision can be subtle and often go unnoticed. Custom surgical magnifiers are designed to work at different distances and the manufacturing process needs to be guided by the correct visual documentation. This is an example of a surgical magnifier for people wearing prescription glasses.

8. Warranty and repair

As with most surgical equipment that wears out every day, you need to consider warranty and maintenance considerations when purchasing. Some brands may offer inexpensive rechargeable batteries, while others may require you to purchase a complete control unit. In addition, you may find that some brands have repairable cables, but others may require a complete lens replacement. Warranty plans vary by brand and product, so make sure you research which plan is right for your team.

9. Type of program executed

Using a surgical magnifying glass in cardiology, orthopedic surgery, dentistry, neurosurgery, urology, pediatric surgery, oncology and more can make it easier for your surgical team to manage complex procedures. A key consideration is to determine how the surgical magnifier will be used in your clinic. For example, are they used for daily practice or for complex procedures and surgeries that require significant concentration and vision? If your facility specializes in detailed and complex procedures, make sure your magnification levels are high enough. Take the time to review your typical program to make an informed purchase decision.

10.Pricing

Be sure to research when it comes to the price of surgical magnifiers. You can certainly find economic models, but many are major investments that can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Consider the specific needs and comfort of the team when identifying important factors. For example, lens (TTL) surgical magnifiers are generally more expensive than flip magnifiers, but because they are lighter and have a wider field of view, many users prefer or even insist on wearing them. Professional grade surgical magnifiers from optical manufacturers typically cost between $500 – $900 +.

Choose the best surgical magnifier for your medical team

Magnifying surgical magnifiers can be a major investment in your medical facility or practice, helping your medical staff provide accurate patient care while protecting them from physical fatigue and even chronic pain. Be sure to do your research before buying surgical magnifiers – and know that a better choice often comes down to the team’s personal comfort preferences.