Why is it important to wear protective eyewear during laser procedures?

Wearing protective eyewear during laser procedures is crucial primarily to prevent retinal damage. Lasers emit concentrated beams of light that can be extremely harmful to the eyes, particularly affecting retinal tissues which are sensitive to high-energy light. The intense energy from a laser can cause thermal and photochemical injuries to the retina, potentially leading to permanent vision loss.

Protective eyewear is designed to filter out specific wavelengths of light that are emitted by the laser in use, thereby providing a barrier that helps safeguard the eyes from harmful exposure. This is not just important for the person operating the laser but also for anyone in the vicinity of the procedure.

While enhancing effectiveness, reducing glare, or improving patient comfort may have some relevance in certain contexts, they do not address the primary concern of eye safety and the prevention of injury associated with laser use. Hence, the primary purpose of protective eyewear is to protect the eyes from possible harm due to exposure to laser radiation.