Safety considerations for simultaneous multiple wavelength exposure in scanning laser ophthalmoscopes.
A method has been developed for calculating the maximum permissible exposure for multiple wavelength lasers used in scanning laser ophthalmoscope systems. The method is based on the assumption that when the human eye is simultaneously exposed to multiple wavelength laser light, the thermal and photochemical effects on the retina are additive and independent of each other. A linear addition method is used to calculate multiple laser maximum permissible exposures for scanning laser ophthalmoscope systems. This paper also includes a discussion of possible synergistic effects of retinal biological effects caused by multiple laser exposure. An example is given to illustrate a conservative, theoretical approach to estimating the maximum permissible exposure for simultaneous multiple wavelength laser exposure.