(2) Hazardous laser equipment. Certain laser equipment, such as tripod-
mounted, hand-held or airborne laser range finders, designators, or illuminators may be
determined to be of sufficient hazard to operators and related personnel that the
Surgeon General may require such persons to be examined. The warning page of the
operator's and maintenance manuals for each laser device shall indicate which types of
user or related personnel should be examined. Operators of currently fielded tactical
laser systems are not required to receive this eye examination.
(3) Eye tests for maintenance personnel. Maintenance personnel routinely
working with high intensity search lights or laser range finders, illuminators, and
designators must have periodic examination for laser radiation.
(4) More tests. Operators and maintenance personnel routinely working
with Class 3 engineering laser tarnsits, geodimeters, and alignments must also have
periodic examination for laser radiation.
(5) WARNING. Visitors must be adequately protected from the laser beam
by protective devices. The visitors should not receive eye surveillance unless injury is
suspected.
(6)
Examination requirements.
(a) Preplacement and termination examinations. The preplacement
ocular (eye) surveillance examination must be performed before a person is assigned to
duties involving a significant risk of exposure to hazardous levels of laser. A termination
examination must be completed as soon as practical when an individual ends his duties
with laser sources.
(b) Periodic examinations. Laser personnel should be included in an
occupational vision program. They should receive vision screening examinations every
two years.
(c) Examination procedures. The ocular surveillance examination
should be performed by an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or doctor skilled in funduscopy
(examining the interior of the eyeball) and biomicroscopy (inspection of the cornea or
lens by means of a slit lamp and corneal microscope combination). The examination
includes:
1 An ocular history with special emphasis on photosensitizing
drugs (drugs causing very high sensitivity to sunlight or ultraviolet rays); unusual
sensitivity to sunlight; or lens surgery.
2 Visual acuity (clearness of vision) of each eye (far and near). If
this is less than 20/20, determine what the visual acuity of each eye is.
MD0587
2-33
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