Surgical loupes aid surgeons in accurately carrying out various surgical procedures. These magnification devices serve as a visual aid that helps improve surgical precision by magnifying the operating site. Although portable surgical loupes seem so easy to maintain, you still have to learn how to properly handle and clean them. Below are the do's and don't of handling and cleaning your new and old surgical loupes.

Dont's, Warnings, and Precautions

Never submerge the entire surgical loupe in water or run under water.Do not apply lens-cleaning fluid or alcohol directly onto the surfaces of the lens. If you directly apply it onto the surfaces, the coatings of the lens can be damaged. It can also possibly deface the adhesives that secure the lenses together.

 - Never submerge the entire surgical loupe in water or run under water.
 - Do not apply lens-cleaning fluid or alcohol directly onto the surfaces of the lens. If you directly apply it onto the surfaces, the coatings of the lens can be damaged. It can also possibly deface the adhesives that secure the lenses together.
 - Do not use other disinfectants other than the one recommended by your surgical loupe manufacturer.
 - Never try to use cotton gauze when cleaning the loupe as this can scratch the surface of the lenses.
 - Get rid of using Lysol and other disinfectants or solutions that contain iodophors or glutaraldehydes.
 - Avoid immersing the loupes in an ultrasonic cleaner or in any liquid.
 - Never sterilize the surgical magnification loupes with ultrasonics, autoclave, steam, chemiclave, or gamma radiation.

 Always keep these don'ts, warnings, and precautions in mind when cleaning and handling your loupe as these activities will not only damage your magnification device, it can as well void its warranty.

Do's and Proper Cleaning Tips

The best way to maintain the surgical loupes is to follow the two-step cleaning process. You need to first take out gross debris from the loupe and then disinfect it. Once done, you can then clean the lenses with the use of an optical lens cleaner that is specially formulated to clean the surfaces of coated lenses.

Clean the loupe with the use of a soft optical lens cloth, water, and mild soap. Air dry the lenses or wipe them with the use of the optical cloth. Usually, when you buy a new loupe it also comes with a micro fiber optical cloth. You can also purchase one from drug stores or optical stores.

The next step is to disinfect the lenses with a quaternary ammonium disinfectant. Avoid spraying the disinfectant directly onto the surgical loupe. You can use a soft wipe or cloth when applying the disinfectant.

Protect the lens of your optical loupe by covering it with a lens cap all the time. The lens caps will safeguard the lenses against damage and scratches. If you still do not own a lens cap, you can purchase them at your local optical store.

Our surgical loupes are manufactured and made from the highest quality materials and components. However, no matter how superior the quality of the loupe is, if you do not know how to properly protect and care for it, its useful life may be shortened. To make sure that your precision optical instrument can last long, you must know how to protect, handle, and clean it properly. Also, remember to be always gentle when handling the surgical loupes because they are very delicate especially the lenses.