geons still use conventional
diamond blades, they have
started transitioning to safety
scalpels for other eyelid and
corneal transplant procedures
after a staff member was cut
while cleaning up a case.
Seeing the risks in real life
hastened the transition, she
says.
Ms. Radke's center uses safe-
ty scalpels and needles for
cataract procedures. After the
surgeon is finished with the
diamond knife, he covers the
blade with the safety shield
and safely passes it off to the
surgical tech. She says that
getting surgeons to make the switch was relatively simple once she
explained the risks to the surgeons. "We just told them that they had
to use it for the benefit of our staff," says Ms. Radke. "They're very
conscientious about sharps injuries, and whatever we need them to
do to keep everyone safe, they go along with."
On the safe side
While cataract surgery is already one of the safest procedures, you
want to do all you can to ensure that your patients have excellent
outcomes with no complications. Incorporating these 8 advances is
a good place to start.
OSM
1 0 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6
• DRUG DECISIONS If a patient's pupil won't dilate after using drops, try pharmaceu-
tical intracameral injection maintenance systems.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN