Surgical Headlights: Factors That Determine The Quality Of Light
Each of the surgical headlights that you can find in the market differs in sizes, styles, designs, price range, and quality of light. Among the very important things that you need to closely take a look at when choosing a surgical headlight is the quality of light it produces. There are four basic factors that encompass the quality of light. These are the spot size, the intensity of light, the color temperature, and the uniformity of illumination. Focusing on these four factors help you find the best portable light source that you can use when performing surgical procedures.
Color Temperature
When the surgical headlight manufacturers say something about warm or cool in headlights, they are referring to the color temperature. Surgical LED headlights are manufactured with varied color temperature. The color temperature, also commonly referred to as the beam color, offers a great impact on how well you can be able to see the surgical region. It refers to the hue of the light and is measured in degrees Kelvin.
For surgical procedures, the best beam color is pure white or the LED with 6100 degrees Kelvin. Pure white LED produces light that is exactly the same as the natural daylight. This allows you to see every critical detail of the surgical spot, including the accurate color of the tissues, without any color changes or distortions.
Depending on your personal preference and on the procedure you will perform, you may need a different light color. Some surgeons find lower color temperature more appropriate for other surgical procedures as it provides greater tissue differentiation.
Spot Size
The spot size is an important factor that will help determine the quality of light. The size of the light you will need greatly depend on the type of surgical procedure that you will perform. There are procedures that will require you to focus on a small area and there are also other procedures that cover a larger surgical site. In order for you to use the same surgical headlight for these varied surgical procedures, you have to pick the LED light that allows you to easily and quickly adjust the spot size.
Uniformity Of Illumination
To avoid color distortion of the images in front of you, and to get rid eye strain or eye fatigue, the portable surgical headlight should produce uniform illumination. This means that the brightness and color of light should be consistent and the same from edge to edge and not bright on one side and then dimming on the other side.
Intensity of Light
Another important factor that contributes to the quality of illumination is the intensity or brightness of the light. It is measured in lux. Each type of surgical headlight is manufactured with a specific brightness which can range from 40,000 lux 225,000 lux. Choosing the intensity of light is typically based on personal preference.
However, it is highly recommended that you choose the headlight with light intensity between 45,000 lux and 90,000 lux as these levels provide an increased sharpness of vision and provide a higher level of detail.