vision enhancement

VISION ENHANCEMENT

PATRICIO C LARRAGOITE, DDSCOCHITI PUEBLO DENTAL PROGRAMS

WHY USE VISION EHHANCEMENT?

• Dentists generally purchase loupes for two reasons: to enhance visual acuity and treatment quality, or to improve working posture and comfort.

Neck health: the three ergonomic criteria for loupes selection

• While none of today's loupe systems enable perfectly neutral head posture (ear—over—shoulder), well—designed loupes may significantly improve poor working postures that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders and clinician discomfort.

The three essential ergonomic factors

• are working distance, declination angle, and frame size.

WORKING DISTANCE IS THE DISTANCE FROM THE EYES TO THE WORK AREA.

The most common problem I observe clinically is that this distance is often measured too short, which results in excessive neck flexion or hunching.

Large square shaped frames enable lower positioning of the scope in relation to the pupil , resulting in a better head posture.

Selecting telescopes

• general dentists, 2.5×to 3.5ו endodontists/periodontists, 3.5× to 4.5× or higher• Keep in mind that high powered scopes create a

shorter depth of field, which may make working in multiple areas of the mouth difffcult.

• It's not unusual for new loupes to need slight adjustments, so be sure to evaluate your new scopes carefully and do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer's technical support for adjustments.

Adjustment Period

• Loupes require an accommodation period. Wear your loupes for no longer than a couple of hours the first few days

• gradually increase wearing time over a five– to 10–day period to become accustomed to the new acuity, posture, and field of vision that magnification offers.

• Speeding this process can lead to headaches.