The objective of the current study was to evaluate the protection given to
the eyes of neonates by an Amber 300 phototherapy hood during blue-light ph
ototherapy from Drager Phototherapie 800 units, and to make recommendations
for clinical practice. Hazard-weighted blue-light radiance of phototherapy
lamps was measured inside neonatal incubators, with and without the use of
a protective phototherapy hood. The study was carried out in a tertiary re
ferral neonatal unit. No patients were involved. A mannequin was used as mo
del of a jaundiced neonate being treated with blue-light phototherapy. The
study shows that hazard-weighted blue-light radiance levels detectable from
within the space enclosed by the hood may be several times greater than ac
cepted industrial threshold limits for adults.
Conclusions: Nursing and medical staff must ensure meticulous care in the p
ositioning of infants,so that the caudal edge of the shadow cast by the hoo
d is always at least 30 mm inferior to the infants' lower eyelids. The vuln
erability of the neonatal retina and the relatively high levels of blue-lig
ht radiance visible from within the shadow of the hood may make it advisabl
e to use more effective eye protection. Triple phototherapy using lamps at
the foot-end of the incubator is clearly hazardous and should not be carrie
d out unless the infant's eyes are protected by eye-patches.