Eyewear on Surgeons?

[mrmandrake]

I was just wondering why, on greys anatomy (I know this is not a good reference but so far my only reference) the surgeons do not regularly wear any sort of protective eyewear when performing surgery. Maybe this is not accurate but it is my only exposure to the OR right now. I am an still doing UG work and planning to do some volunteer work soon, but as of right now I am drawn toward surgery. Thanks for an answer to my seemingly dumb question 🙂

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[Blade28]

I think they avoid eyewear on TV shows because it makes the actors easier to recognize. 🙂

 

[SergeGainsbourg]

I was just wondering why, on greys anatomy (I know this is not a good reference but so far my only reference) the surgeons do not regularly wear any sort of protective eyewear when performing surgery. Maybe this is not accurate but it is my only exposure to the OR right now. I am an still doing UG work and planning to do some volunteer work soon, but as of right now I am drawn toward surgery. Thanks for an answer to my seemingly dumb question 🙂

Most young surgeons wear eye protection. Old timers usually don't. I wear eye protection if I expect the case to be bloody. Otherwise I rely on my glasses.

 

[toofache32]

I think they avoid eyewear on TV shows because it makes the actors easier to recognize. 🙂

This is the same reason NASCAR drivers in TV commercials wear open-face helmets. Ummm, in case anyone cares.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I was just wondering why, on greys anatomy (I know this is not a good reference but so far my only reference) the surgeons do not regularly wear any sort of protective eyewear when performing surgery. Maybe this is not accurate but it is my only exposure to the OR right now. I am an still doing UG work and planning to do some volunteer work soon, but as of right now I am drawn toward surgery. Thanks for an answer to my seemingly dumb question 🙂

For the same reason they have interns delivering babies in the parking lot and surgeons lifting weights in the scrub room. Its a tv show.

Oh yeah, I forgot...the last example is real!

 

[Surgeon24]

I always wear eye protection.

You never know when a 'simple case' becomes a 'nasty bloody case'.

 

[ForbiddenComma]

I'm just a dumb student, but my preceptor doesn't let anyone scrub in even for minor things if they don't at least have glasses on.

Dr. Grey might not have to wear eyewear but she does seem to be in her third year of internship! 😱

 

[Dr JPH]

I always wear eye protection.

Me too.

I have found that a comfortable pair of racquetball glasses does the trick. Your attending may laugh at you at first but when his faceshield fogs you can do your little happy dance because you can still see!

 

[FliteSurgn]

I recommend getting comfortable wearing eye protection for every case. I've had good luck with ordering glasses from safetyglassesusa dot com. They have tons of styles that cost around $5 per pair. I found a couple of styles that I like and order 4 or 5 pairs at a time. They're cheap and I don't have to worry much about losing or breaking them. Keep some in your OR locker, call room, etc.

Disclosure: I have no financial interest in the aforementioned company. 🙂

 

[Mr. McDuck]

I have the flip-up loupes. I just flip them up for non-loupes-required cases. 😉

 

[dawg44]

same reason they put on masks in the OR and not outside the OR on Nip Tuck.

 

[mrmandrake]

Thanks for all the answers guys. I am very far from worrying about what kind of eyewear to use but I'm glad to know surgeons actually use them.

 

[Entei]

What about those of you who normally wear glasses? Anyone have recommendations on prescription safety glasses?

 

[dawg44]

I recommend getting comfortable wearing eye protection for every case. I've had good luck with ordering glasses from safetyglassesusa dot com. They have tons of styles that cost around $5 per pair. I found a couple of styles that I like and order 4 or 5 pairs at a time. They're cheap and I don't have to worry much about losing or breaking them. Keep some in your OR locker, call room, etc.

Disclosure: I have no financial interest in the aforementioned company. 🙂

Awesome site, thanks

 

[SLUser11]

I recommend getting comfortable wearing eye protection for every case. I've had good luck with ordering glasses from safetyglassesusa dot com. They have tons of styles that cost around $5 per pair. I found a couple of styles that I like and order 4 or 5 pairs at a time. They're cheap and I don't have to worry much about losing or breaking them. Keep some in your OR locker, call room, etc.

Disclosure: I have no financial interest in the aforementioned company. 🙂

There are alot of glasses on that page to navigate through.....do you have any specific ones that you'd recommend?

I currently use racquetball specs, and they work good, but they don't completely collapse in my pocket, and are pretty bulky to carry around sometimes. I'd like a thinner pair that still fit good and keep the patient goop out of my eyes while fitting in my white coat as well.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

At my hospital you can't walk into the OR and anticipate scrubbing for a case without some eyewear. I did a set of tonsils as my first case here and got a talking to from the nurses about my lack of eye wear. Haven't made that mistake since. I thought of getting a pair of Oakley's with clear lenses but they are just too pricey and as an intern I don't get to the OR very much anyway. I just use the shield/mask combo for now, but I do have a tendency to fog that up at times.

 

[Mr. McDuck]

You gotta break the first glue/seal on each side, pull the shield forward, and really pinch the nose good. That usually keeps it from fogging. Also, you can put some of the FRED anti-fog on the shield.

 

[MedWiz]

What about those of you who normally wear glasses? Anyone have recommendations on prescription safety glasses?

usually, you would simply wear the protective glasses together with your regular ones.

 

[Mr. McDuck]

I wear contacts, but on the occasion that I wear my regular glasses, I don't wear anything else. As long as my eyes are protected, I don't care if something gets on my forehead.

 

[MossPoh]

same reason they put on masks in the OR and not outside the OR on Nip Tuck.

Sometimes they don't even wear masks....

 

[MossPoh]

You gotta break the first glue/seal on each side, pull the shield forward, and really pinch the nose good. That usually keeps it from fogging. Also, you can put some of the FRED anti-fog on the shield.

I don't know if it applies to that stuff but spit or toothpaste work great with a mask when diving.. Rub a little toothpaste in and rinse it out but that'd probably be a bit odd in the OR...ok a lot odd.

 

[redsurgeon]

Me too.

I have found that a comfortable pair of racquetball glasses does the trick. Your attending may laugh at you at first but when his faceshield fogs you can do your little happy dance because you can still see!

Nice tip! As someone who always sweats perfusely in the OR, this is a great tip! Thanks!

 

[Dr JPH]

Nice tip! As someone who always sweats perfusely in the OR, this is a great tip! Thanks!

🙂

Works for me.

About the happy dance...make sure you have appropriate footwear or you could slip and fall. But thats another thread for another time. 🙂

 

[Surgeon24]

I bought an Oakely with clear lenses, not for the style, but because I have a particular nose and they were the only glasses that protected completely my eyes and were comfortable.

As for the fog, the best way (I found)to stop it is to pinch your mask at your nose and apply a small piece of diachylon on your nose+mask. You just need to stop air coming from your nostrils/mouth to your eyes.

 

[MattD]

What about those of you who normally wear glasses? Anyone have recommendations on prescription safety glasses?

you can get them at walmart if you really want them, but what is the purpose? You can wear the same clip on splash shields on your regular glasses that you would on the safeties. Why would you need impact protection in the OR?

If you really want them, and don't want to go wally-fabulous, I think you can actually get impact resistant prescription oakley's. If you really want them.