Ophthalmology News Laser Plume May Carry Hidden Health Hazards

OSHA prepares guidelines to deal with laser surgery, which may be mroe dangerous to the surgeon than previously thought. Gerald L. Tennant, MD, began performing photorefactive keratectomy with an excimer laser in October 1990. Five years later, the surgeon was forced to retire due to health problems he believes may have been caused by airborne corneal particles or viruses contained in the plume generated from the laser.