One of the most often asked questions by new welders concerns the eyes. As a more particular example, the question of "Is welding dangerous for your eyes?" is a common topic of conversation among welders. If you don't take steps to preserve your eyesight when working with welding, you may end up becoming blind.
Are Welding Eye Hazards True? It's true that welding may harm your eyes and vision, but this doesn't have to be the case. Welding produces toxic fumes, flying metal sparks, and IR and UV radiation that may damage your eyes. It is unlikely that your vision will be badly affected if you take adequate precautions.
For many years, we ran a Metal Fabrication company, where we developed novel products for the concrete industry. We know a lot about welding's effects on the eyes since many of our staff did it on a regular basis.
Personal safety, not just for you but also for your coworkers, always came first when it came to welding safety. We'll now go a bit further into this topic.
Welders are particularly vulnerable to eye injuries, which is unfortunate considering how easily they may be avoided.
Wearing a helmet when welding protects our eyes from flying debris and ultraviolet rays, two of the most common causes of eye injury during welding. When you're in a rush and careless about wearing safety gear, you're setting yourself up for problems, and accidents happen all the time.
Table of Contents
How Do Ultraviolet and Infrared Rays Harm the Eyes?
Photokeratitis may be unpleasant, although it does not have a long-term effect. Having said that, if your corneas were burned by UV rays, you've just accrued yet more dosage of UV rays to your eyes.
The same way that prolonged, unprotected exposure to UV radiation may cause burns on our skin, it can also cause a range of short-term issues in our eyes. Visibility may be compromised because the lens and cornea can get yellowed from too much UV light, even if those effects are short-lived.
Problems Caused by Ultraviolet and Infrared Radiation
Welding generates radiation in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared ranges. The arcs of other welders might also hurt your eyes because reflected light contains radiation. Swollen, aching eyes are the result of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) absorption in the lens and cornea. Fortunately, this is seldom a long-term problem.
These injuries are known as Photokeratitis, or "welder's flash." Even if it's excruciating, the damage can be undone. However, long-term exposure to this sort of radiation may cause the cornea and lens to become yellow. When this occurs, your eyesight will have difficulty distinguishing between light and dark objects.
Symptoms of Welder’s Flash Include the Following:
- A feeling of discomfort in one or both eyes, ranging from moderate to severe.
- Cataracts and eye irritation
- Vision that is blurry
- Light sensitivity has been enhanced.
- Tears in the eyes
- Eyes that are red and puffy.
Cataracts may develop as a result of long-term injury to the retina. Welders are significantly more likely to have temporary (if unpleasant) vision impairments as a result of welding than they are to experience long-term vision difficulties. However, safety should always come first, so take precautions when working.
What Are Some Other Eye Problems Caused by UV and IR Rays?
Pterygium, or "surfer's eye," is another possible side effect of UV exposure. In most cases, it's a harmless growth on the eye's surface that originates near the nose. There is a risk of ocular damage as a result of this medication. Although surgery may be able to alleviate the symptoms, it is possible that they may reappear in the future.
In persons over 40, cataracts are the most prevalent cause of visual loss. A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens that progresses over time. They are the leading cause of reversible blindness in the world if left untreated. About 20% of all cataract occurrences are attributed to UV exposure and are avoidable, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Cataract surgery is done on up to three million people each year in the United States. Over 20 million people in the United States now have cataracts, according to Prevent Blindness.
Another main cause of vision loss and blindness in those over 60 is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Early onset of AMD has been shown to be connected with high levels of ultraviolet (UV) exposure throughout childhood. Early exposure to UV rays may have a significant role in the development of AMD, according to research. AMD may be caused by UV exposure that causes retinal photooxidative stress. AMD causes permanent vision loss that cannot be recovered. Early identification and therapy, on the other hand, may delay the progression of the disease.
How Does the Welder Best Protect His Eyes From Harmful Rays?
We can do this one quickly. ANSI-approved welding helmets protect your eyes from hazardous UV and IR radiation when welding. If an auto-darkening helmet is not in the darkened condition, it must be able to give complete protection from both UV and infrared radiation. As a result, before making a purchase, prospective purchasers should verify that the helmet meets ANSI Z87.1 standards.
Consider the dangers of indirect exposure to a welding arc. As a result, even if you are a long way away from the welder, the UV rays will still reach your eyes.
Welding equipment's unsung hero are UV-protective safety glasses. They may reduce the amount of strong light while increasing contrast when they're darkened. Clear safety glasses, on the other hand, may be labelled as providing 100 percent UV protection. When working in a welding shop, you simply cannot do without a pair of safety glasses.
It is crucial to remember that UV rated safety glasses can protect your eyesight from both short-term and long-term impacts of UV radiation.
How to Protect Your Eyes When Welding
An ANSI-approved helmet is a must-have initial step. All ANSI Z87.1-compliant auto-darkening helmets provide complete protection from UV and infrared radiation.
This is a good start, but since so much welding is done with the helmet on, it isn't adequate protection. Wearing full-spectrum UV-protective safety glasses is a must. You may use clear or tinted glasses based on your own preference.
The darker the lenses of your sunglasses, the less UV protection they provide. Wearing dark glasses that do not protect against UV rays might be just as bad as not wearing any at all. During the night, your pupils will widen, allowing UV radiation to reach your eyes unfiltered. Don't settle for anything less than a pair of sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV protection, no matter how inexpensive they may be.
Even if you're standing 50 feet away from someone welding, you should still wear eye protection due to the possibility of indirect exposure.
When arc welding, you should additionally cover your glasses with a face shield. Gas welding requires a shield and eye protection with a shade rating ranging from 3 to 8.
Is It Only Radiation That Can Damage Your Eyes When Welding?
Eye injuries that result from no flash burns are the most prevalent, yet radiation isn't the only risk factor. Particles thrown into the air by other welding tasks in the workplace might be damaging to your eyes if you don't use eye protection.
Angle grinders may hurl debris into the air, as can any kind of cutting instrument, from band saws to chop saws. For the same reason, sanding, polishing, and notching pipe all carry the risk of injury or death.
Workers' compensation claims result in the loss of sight for tens of thousands of individuals each year. Even more tragically, proper eye protection may avoid 90 percent of all eye injuries.
What Is Arc-Eye?
Inflammation of the cornea caused by ultraviolet (UV) light emitted by a welding arc is known as arc-eye or welder's flash. Other possible causes of arc-eye include:
- The rays of the sun.
- Sunlamps at tanning salons, halogen lamps, and flood lamps for photographers are all examples of light sources.
- The sun's refraction off either water or snow.
Symptoms of arc-eye are not always obvious at first. Rather, they will take a few hours to form. As a result, arc-eye symptoms may go unnoticed for up to many hours after exposure. Make sure you take sufficient safety measures while you're near or working with welders since they are the most prevalent causes of eye burns.
“I Accidentally Looked At A Welding Arc”
Some or all of the following symptoms are likely to occur if you've glanced at a welding arc without proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Pressure or discomfort in the eyes might be mild or severe.
- Light sensitivity or inability to gaze at a light source that is abnormal.
- The eyes begin to water abnormally.
- The eye and surrounding membranes become reddened.
- The eye and surrounding membranes are torn apart.
- A 'grit or sand' sensation in your eye.
Several parameters, including the distance, length, and angle at which radiation enters the eye, might impact the severity of a flash burn injury. In addition, long-term exposure may lead to cataracts, which can eventually lead to blindness.
If you are having any of the following symptoms, you should visit a doctor. Since there may be foreign things in your eye causing your irritation, getting an antibiotic may be necessary to avoid an infection. In order to enable your eyes to rest and recuperate from arc-eye, your doctor will likely prescribe dilating drops and padded bandages. As soon as possible after treatment starts, your doctor will check your eyes to make sure they are healing and free of infection. You will be directed to a specialist if there are any issues with your therapy.
Within a day or two, your cornea should begin to heal. If you don't treat arc-eye, you put yourself at risk for infection. This may lead to varied degrees of visual loss in the most catastrophic situations.
What is Welders Flash or Photokeratitis?
These UV and IR-related ailments go by various different names among welders. "Welder's Flash" and "Arc Eye" are among the most prevalent. The cornea is damaged by UV radiation in all of these cases.
Welder's flash, also known as Photokeratitis, is a painful injury that is generally observed within a few hours after being inflicted. Red, bloodshot eyes reminiscent of conjunctivitis, tears in the eyes, reduced vision in bright light, and evident discomfort are the most common symptoms.
Even though it's frightening, the majority of Photokeratitis injuries and symptoms are just transient. Over 90% of patients recover completely, however it's critical that you see an ophthalmologist so that they can examine your eyes in further detail before you leave.
This injury can only be treated by these professionals. Most likely, you'll be given eye drops to use, but there's always the possibility of anything more involved being advised.
Personal Protective Equipment
The term "personal protective equipment" (PPE) refers to a wide range of items intended to safeguard employees' health and safety on the job. Welding poses dangers even after all other safety precautions have been put in place. In order to be safe against arc flash, it is critical that you have proper eye PPE. Choosing welding helmets or goggles with the suitable filter scale for the welder's radiation is critical when it comes to eye PPE.
Welding is not without danger, and eye protection is not the only PPE required to prevent harm to the eyes. Using the results of a comprehensive risk assessment, workers should put on PPE that is appropriate for the variety of potential dangers they may face on the job. The proper PPE must be worn at all times during welding operations, even if it is only a short-term project.
What About Eye Damage From Other Causes in the Welding Shop?
- Portable angle grinders and table grinders may be used for grinding.
- Plasma/torch cutting, chop saw cutting, and bandsaw cutting are examples of cutting techniques.
- Attaching a strong wire wheel to an angle or bench grinder for buffing/cleaning
- An angle grinder with a flap wheel for sanding.
- chopping a pipe's end
- Slag was chipped and hammered
As you can see, this is only the tip of the iceberg. As a general rule, if it spins or moves in any manner, you'll require eye and facial protection. If it doesn't, that's OK.
Thousands of individuals lose their vision each year as a result of work-related eye injuries that might have been avoided if eye and face protection had been properly selected and used. An additional 90 percent of eye injuries may be avoided by wearing adequate protective eyewear, according to the Academy of Ophthalmology. Small particles of dust or debris may cause serious damage to the cornea, which can lead to long-term vision problems.
Preventing Eye Injuries When Welding
Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety reports that the most common welding injury is damage to the eyes, which occurs in 25% of welding accidents overall. The highest incidence of welding-related eye injuries occurs among those who work in the manufacturing of industrial and commercial machinery, computer equipment, and fabricated metal goods.
Proper use of eye protection is the simplest and most effective method for avoiding eye injuries. When it comes to protecting yourself, a helmet alone isn't enough. In addition to their welding helmets, gas welders and oxygen cutters must always wear approved eye protection (such as goggles that comply with ANSI Z87.1). When it comes to protecting your eyes from things like dust and radiation, goggles are far superior to safety glasses.
Few people bother to wear protective eyewear because they either don't care about their safety, can't be bothered, or are too self-conscious to deal with the hassle of removing their glasses or goggles to insert their prescription lenses. It is important to remind employees that there are many potential sources of welding-related eye injuries.
Flying particles and chipped slag, radiation and photochemical burns from UVR, infrared, and bright blue light, chemical burns from fumes, and irritation and chemical burns from fumes and chemicals are all possibilities.
To lessen the frequency with which eyes are injured while welding, a plan should be put in place outlining proper welding behaviour.
Cumulative Damage Risks
The most common types of welding (shielded metal-arc or stick welding, gas metal-arc welding, and oxyacetylene welding) all produce potentially harmful radiation in the ultraviolet, infrared, and visible spectrums. Ultraviolet rays can potentially kill a person in a matter of minutes. Arc eye, also known as arc flash, is caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and is characterised by redness, irritation, and watering of the eyes. The cornea and lens of the eye normally absorb UVR.
Welder's flash is a real risk in the welding industry, but it's one that can be mitigated with the right precautions. Wearing a helmet and safety glasses can help protect your eyes from welder's flash and other potential hazards.
Don't give up and become a statistic because you couldn't find your glasses right away. Wear them as you prepare your safety equipment and keep them on at all times.
Conclusion
The question "Is welding dangerous for your eyes?" comes up frequently in conversations between new welders. Welding can be hazardous to your eyes and vision, but this is not inevitable. It is possible to suffer some degree of eye damage from the toxic fumes and flying metal sparks produced by welding, as well as from the IR and UV radiation that may be present, but this is highly unlikely if proper safety measures are taken. The most common causes of eye injury during welding are flying debris and ultraviolet rays, both of which can be avoided by simply wearing a helmet. Photokeratitis, caused by the absorption of ultraviolet radiation in the lens and cornea, is just one example of the short-term damage that ultraviolet and infrared radiation can do to our eyes. This is usually not a problem that persists for very long.
Welder's flash, also known as photokeratitis, is an eye injury brought on by exposure to UV and IR light. Discomfort in one or both eyes, hazy vision, sensitivity to light, watery, red eyes are all symptoms. When left untreated, cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide and the leading cause of visual impairment in people over the age of 40. Another potential UV-related side effect is pterygium, also known as "surfer's eye." AMD, or age-related macular degeneration, is another leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Workplace safety is of paramount importance; research suggests that exposure to ultraviolet light in childhood may play a key role in the later development of age-related macular degeneration.
Welding can expose your eyes to harmful UV and IR rays; ANSI-approved helmets can help shield them. Welding equipment isn't complete without UV-protective safety glasses, which filter out harmful rays of light and darken the surrounding area to increase contrast. Make sure the helmet satisfies ANSI Z87.1 standards before buying it. Eyesight can be shielded from the immediate and cumulative effects of UV radiation exposure with the help of UV-rated safety glasses. Arc welding requires the use of a face shield, which should be worn over eyewear.
Shields and eye protection with a shade rating of 3-8 are required when gas welding. Welders' arcs emit ultraviolet (UV) light, which can cause eye damage known as "arc-eye." Natural sunlight, sunlamps, halogen lamps, and floodlights are some other potential sources. Eye pain or pressure, sensitivity to light or inability to stare into an abnormal light source, redness, torn membranes, and a "grit or sand" sensation are all symptoms of arc-eye. Cataracts, which can develop after prolonged exposure, are a leading cause of irreversible vision loss.
90% of eye injuries could be prevented with the right eye protection. Photokeratitis, more commonly known as Welder's Flash, is a painful injury that usually manifests itself within a few hours of exposure to intense light. In the worst cases, it can cause complete or partial blindness. Eye protection against arc flash should include welding helmets or goggles with a filter scale appropriate for the welder's radiation source. Safety glasses aren't the only gear you need to keep your eyes safe while welding.
The grinding can be done with portable angle grinders and table grinders, while the cutting can be done with plasma/torch, chop saw, and bandsaw. Workers in the production of industrial and commercial machinery, computer equipment, and fabricated metal goods have the highest incidence of welding-related eye injuries (25 percent of all welding accidents). Preventing harm to one's eyes can be done easily and effectively by wearing proper eye protection, and goggles are far superior to safety glasses in this regard. Even though there are numerous potential causes of eye injuries, few people take the precaution of wearing protective eyewear while welding. A policy outlining safe welding practises is needed to reduce the number of eye injuries.
In the ultraviolet, infrared, and visible spectrums, the most common types of welding (shielded metal-arc or stick welding, gas metal-arc welding, and oxyacetylene welding) all emit radiation that could be harmful. Redness, irritation, and watering of the eyes are symptoms of arc eye, also called arc flash, which is brought on by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Protect your eyes from flying debris, sparks, and welder's flash by always wearing protective headgear and eyewear.
Content Summary
- It's true that welding may harm your eyes and vision, but this doesn't have to be the case.
- Wearing a helmet when welding protects our eyes from flying debris and ultraviolet rays, two of the most common causes of eye injury during welding.
- These injuries are known as Photokeratitis, or "welder's flash."
- ANSI-approved welding helmets protect your eyes from hazardous UV and IR radiation when welding.
- Consider the dangers of indirect exposure to a welding arc.
- Welding equipment's unsung hero are UV-protective safety glasses.
- All ANSI Z87.1-compliant auto-darkening helmets provide complete protection from UV and infrared radiation.
- Wearing full-spectrum UV-protective safety glasses is a must.
- Particles thrown into the air by other welding tasks in the workplace might be damaging to your eyes if you don't use eye protection.
- Symptoms of arc-eye are not always obvious at first.
- Several parameters, including the distance, length, and angle at which radiation enters the eye, might impact the severity of a flash burn injury.
- If you are having any of the following symptoms, you should visit a doctor.
- You will be directed to a specialist if there are any issues with your therapy.
- Welding is not without danger, and eye protection is not the only PPE required to prevent harm to the eyes.
- Proper use of eye protection is the simplest and most effective method for avoiding eye injuries.
- It is important to remind employees that there are many potential sources of welding-related eye injuries.
- Wearing a helmet and safety glasses can help protect your eyes from welder's flash and other potential hazards.
- Wear them as you prepare your safety equipment and keep them on at all times.
FAQs About Metal
Corneal flash burns occur when a very strong light burns the surface of the eye (the cornea). Causes of corneal flash burns include skiing without glasses, welding arcs and sun lamps. Usually the symptoms of pain and swelling of the eye with blurred vision occurs approximately 6 to 12 hours after the burn.
When welders don't properly protect their eyes from the arc, they commonly suffer welder's flash, or photokeratitis, a condition caused by exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation resulting in temporary blindness and extreme discomfort. More extreme eye injuries can result in permanent blindness.
The symptoms of arc-eye typically appear several hours after exposure, when the eyes become red, watering and painful, often with a gritty feeling. They may become sensitive to light.
Light. Contrary to what many people may say, a welding arc is not brighter than the sun. However, exposure to welding arc light is brighter than any sun you will experience beneath the atmosphere. The arc gives off ultraviolet light that can burn your eyes and skin by being exposed to it.
Some welders choose to wear shaded safety glasses underneath their helmets. Be sure to wear welding-rated glasses if you're attempting to weld in close quarters without a helmet. Even light welding requires at least shade 5 lenses to protect your eyes.