Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Trade in your old loupes and headlights, including low-magnification loupes, non-ergonomic loupes, and blue-tinted LED headlights. Upgrade to the latest ergonomic technology and improve your clinical experience. Contact your local sales representative to learn more about available trade-in options.

Please contact Customer Service to discuss adding or updating your prescription. A copy of your current eyeglass prescription will be required, along with information regarding how the prescription will be used. Please let us know if you would like the prescription incorporated into the telescopes, the carrier lenses, or both.

Customer Service: 1-800-959-0153

Healthcare professionals should always follow established infection control protocols and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with their facility, professional guidelines, and local regulations.

Our recommendations are listed below:

1. Wear Appropriate PPE

Use the appropriate PPE for your clinical environment, which may include:

• Protective eyewear or loupes
• Face masks or respirators as required by your facility
• Face shields when additional splash or aerosol protection is needed
• Gloves, gowns, and protective clothing as appropriate

Always follow your organization’s infection control policies and applicable CDC, OSHA, and professional association guidelines.

2. Use a Face Shield When Additional Protection Is Required

• Compatible with SurgiTel products
• Provides additional protection from splashes and aerosols
• Multiple light mounting options available
• Allows comfortable ergonomic positioning
• Reduces contamination of loupes and face masks
• Anti-fog and static-free options available
• Lightweight and optically clear

When selecting a face shield, choose one that provides adequate clearance for your loupes and headlight system. Some face shields may require an opening for LED headlights or the use of a compatible light adapter. Contact your local SurgiTel representative for available accessory options.

3. Clean and Disinfect Loupes and Headlights Regularly

Loupes and headlights should be cleaned and disinfected between patients and whenever contamination occurs.

We recommend using disinfectants that are compatible with optical equipment. Refer to the Manuals and Instructions page for detailed cleaning and disinfection instructions.

4. Use Side Shields or Protective Eyewear When Appropriate

• SurgiTel Titanium frames include removable side shields.
• Replacement side shields are available by contacting SurgiTel Customer Support.
• Wrap-around protective frames, such as SurgiTel Con2our and Oakley Radar provide integrated side protection and meet applicable safety standards.

5. Additional Recommendations

• If using Front-Lens-Mounted (FLM) loupes, nose pads may be positioned on face masks to improve comfort and seal.
• Through-The-Lens (TTL) loupes should be worn with nose pads resting directly on the nose.
• Inspect loupes, headlights, and accessories regularly for wear or damage and replace components as needed.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the use, care, cleaning, or compatibility of your SurgiTel loupes and accessories, please contact SurgiTel Customer Support at support@surgitel.com.

Disclaimer: General Scientific Corporation provides these recommendations as general guidance only. Healthcare professionals should always follow their organization’s infection control policies, applicable regulations, and the instructions provided by PPE manufacturers. Users are responsible for determining the suitability of any PPE or infection control practice for their specific clinical environment.

For detailed cleaning, disinfection, and care instructions, please visit our Manuals and Instructions webpage.

The ideal magnification depends on your experience level, specialty, and clinical procedures.

If you are a first-time loupe user, we generally recommend starting with 3.0x magnification. This provides an excellent balance between magnification and field of view, making it a popular choice for many clinicians.

If you are an experienced loupe user, the ideal magnification is the one that best enhances your clinical procedures and visual needs. Higher magnifications can provide greater detail, while lower magnifications typically offer a wider field of view.

The best way to determine which magnification is right for you is to try different options in your clinical environment. Schedule a free evaluation or appointment with a SurgiTel representative to experience various magnifications firsthand.

SurgiTel’s patented Working Distance Caps are available for both Galilean and prism (Keplerian) loupes and provide clinicians with greater flexibility, improved visualization, and enhanced ergonomics.

Working Distance Caps offer several important benefits:

Compensate for Age-Related Vision Changes

As presbyopia develops with age, a clinician’s preferred working distance may change. Working Distance Caps can help compensate for these changes, allowing clinicians to maintain clear vision and comfortable posture without replacing their loupes.

Optimize Working Distance for Different Procedures

Different procedures often require different working positions. Working Distance Caps allow clinicians to modify their working distance to better suit various procedures and clinical environments while maintaining proper ergonomic posture.

Increase Magnification Resolution

Shortening the working distance can improve the amount of detail visible through the loupes. This allows a single pair of loupes to function as a multi-resolution system, providing enhanced visualization for procedures requiring greater detail.

For example, reducing the working distance by 20% can significantly improve visual resolution and the ability to distinguish fine details.

To learn more about how working distance affects loupe resolution, please refer to the September 2016 issue of ErgoPractice News.

No problem. If you wear prescription glasses, your prescription information will be collected during your office fitting or evaluation.

For Front-Lens-Mounted (FLM) loupes, prescription lenses can be incorporated into select carrier frames during manufacturing.

For Through-The-Lens (TTL) loupes, your prescription can be built directly into the loupe optics, allowing you to see clearly without wearing separate prescription eyewear.

Our representatives will review your prescription and recommend the best option based on your vision needs and loupe configuration.

Without getting too technical, the primary difference between Galilean and prism (Keplerian) loupes is the optical design.

Prism loupes incorporate miniature prisms within the telescope system, allowing them to achieve higher magnification levels while maintaining a larger field of view and excellent image quality.

Traditionally, prism loupes were significantly heavier than Galilean loupes. However, SurgiTel’s patented UltiView™ Pro optical design delivers high magnification with exceptional field of view while minimizing weight for improved comfort and ergonomics.

In general:

• Galilean loupes are typically lighter and are commonly available in lower magnifications.
• Prism loupes provide higher magnification, a wider field of view, and greater visual detail, making them ideal for clinicians who require enhanced visualization.

The best choice depends on your specialty, procedures, and personal preferences. A SurgiTel representative can help you determine which optical system is right for you.

Even with perfect eyesight, magnification enables you to see fine details that may not be visible to the naked eye. Many clinicians lean forward to improve visibility, which can place unnecessary strain on the neck, shoulders, and back.

Loupes also allow you to work at a greater distance from the operating area. This promotes improved ergonomics by supporting a more upright posture and reducing physical strain, while also helping reduce proximity to the clinical field for both clinician and patient, supporting better contamination control.

SurgiTel loupes enhance visualization while promoting better ergonomic posture, helping you see more comfortably and work more efficiently.

Seeing clearly is not just about brightness. In clinical environments, too much light can actually reduce visibility by washing out fine details and making tissue differentiation more difficult.

True visual clarity depends on several factors working together, including brightness control, contrast, glare reduction, and color rendering.

Color rendering refers to how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects compared to natural daylight. A higher-quality light allows you to distinguish subtle differences in tissue, materials, and surfaces more easily, which can support improved precision during procedures.

SurgiTel illumination systems are designed with optical engineering that helps optimize beam quality, including controlled glare reduction and selectable color temperature options. This allows clinicians to choose lighting that best matches their procedures and visual preferences.

Because lighting needs vary by specialty and technique, we recommend a customized evaluation. Click below to request an appointment, and your local representative can help configure an optimal lighting system for your work.

Excessive brightness and glare from surgical lighting can contribute to eye strain and make it harder to distinguish fine details in the working field.

SurgiTel offers optical solutions designed to improve visual comfort by reducing glare and controlling unwanted light outside of the primary working area. These options can help create a more balanced and comfortable viewing environment, allowing you to focus on critical details without unnecessary visual fatigue.

Because lighting needs vary by procedure and environment, each system can be customized to match your specific workflow and preferences. A SurgiTel representative can help evaluate your setup and recommend the most appropriate configuration for your clinical needs.

SurgiTel LED lighting systems use high-performance lithium-ion battery technology designed for reliable clinical use throughout the day.

Battery life varies depending on the system configuration:

• Standard corded LED battery packs: up to 8 hours of continuous use on a full charge
• Wireless LED systems (extended battery option): up to 4 hours of continuous use on a full charge
• High-capacity configurations (where applicable): up to 12 hours at maximum brightness

For best performance, we recommend charging your battery pack overnight so it is ready for the next clinical day. In many setups, the system can also be operated while charging if needed.

This flexibility ensures you have dependable illumination tailored to your workflow and usage needs.

No. Laser and X-ray protection can be provided with or without loupes.

If your procedures involve exposure to laser light or ionizing radiation, SurgiTel offers protective eyewear solutions that can be integrated into frames without magnification. This allows you to maintain safety and compliance without needing to use loupes if they are not required for your workflow.

These protective frame options are designed for comfort, clarity, and clinical practicality, helping you avoid bulky or uncomfortable traditional-style goggles while maintaining appropriate protection.