Add a Blue Filter to Your Dental Loupes

It is typical for a dentist to wear telescopic loupes to accomplish restorative procedures. It is also common to use light-cured materials, which are activated by blue light. This light is very bright, and harmful to the eyes. Some dentists choose to look away from the light during the light curing process. (This is sometimes referred to as the "Dixie Technique" after the line in the song Dixie: "Look away, look away, look away Dixieland.") I find that being able to look at the light through an amber-colored blue light filter allows me to look at the light and make sure it is always lined up with the material to be cured. I predict that once you try being able to see what you are doing, you will not want to go back to looking away.

This is about how to add a section of blue light filter to your loupe glasses, so that you can look at the curing light while it is working and still protect your eyes. The adhesive filtering film is easy to apply, and makes light curing a much easier process. When my son, Dr. Alex Chaney, was ordering his first set of glasses, I told him he should get the amber filter on the lower 8 mm of his glasses. He said that nobody else thought it was needed. I said, “Trust me, you will be glad you got it”. He has agreed afterwards that the filter is very useful.

I use two layers. One layer reduces the light intensity slightly more than the filters that came installed on my Orascoptic glasses. Two layers reduces the intensity about the same as the filtering on my son’s Designs for Vison glasses. I recommend two layers, which reduces the blue light to very dim, and yet you can still see the teeth very well. Our new Q-Optics glasses do not offer blue light filtering, but installing my own allows me to place the filter in a location more convenient than the factory installed options on other glasses. I make no warranty about how well your vision is protected, but when I use it the curing light is quite dim and it seems to work better than the filter I have been using for years on my previous glasses.

1. Glasses to accept the bonded film.

2. Soapy water: I used a few drops of Dawn dishwashing detergent in ½ cup of water. I have heard that baby shampoo works well for this, too.

3. Adhesive Amber light filtering film: www.uvprocess.com part number F007-010. I ordered the minimum one foot by 5 feet, which gives enough film for about 500 glasses.

4. Scotch “Magic Tape”

I recommend doing this on a piece of glass or acrylic or a window to get the feeling for how it works, since you will have plenty of film to practice with. You can also explore how it is possible to remove it, and feel safe knowing that this process is reversible.

The film has a clear backing to protect the adhesive, and it is somewhat difficult to remove. By sticking some tape on the backing side it is much easier to remove, and also it helps to remember which side has the backing. The picture shows two pieces prepared with tape on the backing side. Experiment with a scrap: add tape to one side, trim off the excess, add a small tape handle to the other side, and remove the backing by lifting off a corner with a sharp blade and peeling off the backing. Mine arrived rolled up, and the backing was on the outside of the roll.

I made a paper pattern, and you can use a washer or a coin to get the right sized circle. My filter extends 9 mm laterally beyond the loupe, and down to the lower edge. To use it, I close my right eye and look through the filter with my left eye. I can see with both eyes looking to the left of the loupes, so I could also place amber filter to the left of the loupe for the right eye. I think that having only one eye filtered does the job just fine.

Prepare two pieces with tape on the backing side, and tape one piece to the other, and the pattern on top. I applied mine from the back side of the glass, since my glasses are bifocals, and the back does not have the edge of the bifocal zone to contend with. If you leave the bottom edge for last, you can pinch the layers together to keep them aligned as you cut out the pieces with scissors. Then cut the bottom edges while holding the pieces together with your fingers. The photo shows the pieces of filter and the pattern taped together, with the amber film facing down. It has the glue side up in the pieces of film. The diagram shows the order of the layers.

Take a small piece of tape to give a handle on the amber film. While holding the tape handle, peel off the backing. The back side of the amber film is slightly sticky, so be sure to keep this away from dust so that it stays clean.

Clean the surface of the glass with alcohol and a soft cloth. Place a few drops of the soapy water on the area of glass that is to be bonded, and then place the first layer of amber film into place. The water allows you to slide the film into the proper position. Then, with a soft cloth press the film to the glass, while soaking the soapy water from the edges. When it is in position, use the soft cloth to press the film onto the glass. Then remove the tape "handle" and press it down some more. Let the first layer sit for a few hours before placing the second layer so that the first layer will stay firmly in place. If you have left excess film going past the lower edge of the glass, this can be trimmed off with a sharp knife after the glue is set. I found it easiest to trim the film to the correct dimensions before placement, so that no trimming is needed.

That is it! The film will become clearer after a few days when the water has dried out. Although it is removable, it sticks rather well, and will handle cleaning with a soft cloth nicely.

This picture shows an alternative application, with the filtering film in two layers on the outside of the glasses. The pieces of film are 9 mm in height, and 20 mm in width.