Current laser safety standards overestimate retinal hazards when viewing optical fiber tips with magnifying aids. Methods for assessing optical hazards are based on laser beam characteristics and assume worst-case exposure to both the unaided eye and when using a variety of optical aids. These standard methods provide overly conservative results when assessing the increased risk of viewing an emitting fiber with commonly available magnifiers. A more accurate and simpler method could be used to assess the risks of optically aided viewing when examining fiber tips.
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