I am a third year otolaryngology resident, and I've been using cheap, dental loupes for our operations. They cost around $30. Cheap doesn't mean non - functional. It has 2.5 x magnification and provides a clear (although the field of view could use some improvement; feels like looking through a coin) view, but with no built - in light source.
Then there are shadowless headlamps, more popularly the Dr. Kim brand, which costs around 1400 dollars, or a cheaper, very similar Mamang brand in Alibaba, which is around 330 - 360$.
My question is: do you think these types of headlights provide additional benefit and marked difference during surgery? For sure the field of view may be better because of the bigger lens of attachable loupes, but I'm not certain if spending hundreds or thousands of dollars would provide marginal benefit with how we do operations. For reference, most of our operation are thyroidectomies, neck dissections, tonsillectomies. etc. I think my cheap dental loupes suffice, because the overhead lighting in most operating rooms are bright enough
Hoping to get some insights from those already with years of experience operating. :)
I can't comment on the quality of either headlamp but the goal of a head lamp is not brighter (though it can be) but to have more coaxial light which means better light in a hole and not repositioning the OR light
Sharpness and Durability should be considered. We look more into cavities and we sometimes have to carry out long procedures
Hello jan
i spent years never using a headlight and only use one occasionally now.
if your eyes are good, your theatre lights good and you command their placement then most of the time you don’t need extra light. I found they were heavy and didn’t like them for 10 hrs on my head!
now that LED andbattery tech is so good they are much lighter and the light is bright and warmer to aid dissection. I still use lighted retractors for most of my ops however as the light is then in the hole and not trying to shine into the hole with all the shadow. Implications. You will make your own mind up as how to best work - try the options and decide which works best for you. I agree that some cheap LED options and optics are very good now and you can upgrade and replace easily- perhaps have a few different magnifications. 25 years ago however I paid $3000 for custom 2.5 x expanded field design for vision loupes and I still use them today - so that’s the other side of the coin !! A really good investment will last my career lifetime (I hope) .
Best wishes and stay well
jp
John Pereira Thank you for this perspective. I have decided not to invest in Shadowless Headlamps for now. Yes, I think the good overhead lights of the OR would suffice. :)
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