Responses of the 14-item questionnaire disturbed to the European vitreoretinal Society) members (n=630) in relation to the trends for the use of eye protection methods during retinal laser
| Question | N (%) |
| Practice setting | |
| 1. Which region of the world do you mainly practice? | |
| Asia/Pacific | 67 (10.6) |
| Latin America | 32 (5.1) |
| North America | 132 (21.0) |
| Europe | 332 (52.7) |
| Africa/Middle East | 67 (10.6) |
| 2. Please list your main country of practice (free text) | |
| 3. Which of the following best describes your main practice? | |
| Private practice | 263 (41.7) |
| University or government hospital | 266 (42.2) |
| Mixed practice | 101 (16.1) |
| 4. How many years have you been in practice as a specialist? | |
| 1–4 years | 41 (6.5) |
| >5 years | 589 (93.5) |
| Endolaser | |
| 5. Does your operating microscope have a protective laser filter for the operating surgeon? | |
| Yes | 580 (92.1) |
| No, but the surgeon uses protective laser goggles | 43 (6.8) |
| No laser filter, and the surgeon does not use protective laser goggles | 7 (1.1) |
| 6. Does your operating microscope have a protective laser filter for the surgical assistant? | |
| Yes | 405 (64.3) |
| No, but the assistant uses protective laser goggles | 181 (28.7) |
| No laser filter, and the assistant does not use protective laser goggles | 44 (7.0) |
| 7. When performing endolaser during retinal surgery, do you use laser protective goggles for auxiliary staff in the operating room? | |
| Yes | 245 (38.9) |
| No | 385 (61.1) |
| 3D vitreoretinal surgery | |
| 8. When performing endolaser using the 3D surgery platform, do you use protective laser goggles for the operating surgeon?* | |
| Yes | 49 (7.8) |
| No | 93 (14.8) |
| We do not perform 3D surgery | 488 (77.4) |
| 9. When performing endolaser using the 3D surgery platform, do you use protective laser goggles for the surgical assistant and auxiliary staff? | |
| Yes | 60 (9.5) |
| No | 82 (13.1) |
| We do not perform 3D surgery | 488 (77.4) |
| Indirect laser retinopexy or PRP | |
| 10. When performing indirect laser retinopexy or PRP, do you use protective goggles for auxiliary staff if they attend in the room? | |
| Yes | 396 (62.9) |
| No | 234 (37.1) |
| 11. When performing indirect laser retinopexy or PRP, do you patch or close the patient’s other eye? | |
| Yes | 227 (36.0) |
| No | 403 (64.0) |
| Slitlamp laser retinopexy of PRP | |
| 12. When performing slit lamp laser, do you use protective goggles for auxiliary staff if they attend in the laser room? | |
| Yes | 383 (60.8) |
| No | 247 (39.2) |
| General opinion | |
| 13. What do you feel regarding the use of protective goggles in the operating room? (with additional comments) | |
| Mandatory | 230 (36.5) |
| Unnecessary | 179 (28.4) |
| Equivocal/not sure | 221 (35.1) |
| 14. Have you ever witnessed or been made aware of any iatrogenic laser injury to physicians or auxiliary staff while not wearing protective goggles in your institution? If yes, please describe. | |
| Yes | 600 (95.2) |
| No | 30 (4.8) |
*Only 142 from 630 reported they use 3D vitreoretinal surgery.
3D, three dimensional; PRP, panretinal photocoagulation.