eye protection

[dabar39]

I have read a bunch of posts on here talking about eye safety. Any newcomers to the welding field LISTEN UP. I went to the eye doctor today to get my yearly eye exam to renew the prescription for contact lenses. Instead I got a referal to an eye spe******t as it seems I now have a cataract forming in my right eye. Probably caused by years of lax safety on my part. Way too many times of tacking with out a hood, not wearing glasses under my hood, a few too many cases of flash burn, flash from other welders around me, I'm sure the list can go on and on. I started being cautious way too late to do me any good, If this will get just one of the newbies to welding to take eye protection seriously I will be happy. From my understanding I will have to go in for surgery to have it removed and have a new lens implanted into my eye, don't sound like fun to me at all. I have an appointment on Monday with the spe******t, as this progresses I will keep adding to this post to let you know the consequences of my stupidity. Dave

[Bert]

Don't even FEEL stupid! stupid!!! I'm 45 now, and I have a lot of friends and wife has friends that have cataracts. Secretaries to the workers in the taro patch farm where I live (now guys, don't get any ideas, Hawaii is probably more modern than where YOU live! Had a tourist tell my sister last year that she was shocked, thought we still lived in grass huts... ).
Anyway, you were probably bound to have them anyway, will keep you in prayers for a quick and great recovery.
bert

[Goodhand]

I have read a bunch of posts on here talking about eye safety. Any newcomers to the welding field LISTEN UP. I went to the eye doctor today to get my yearly eye exam to renew the prescription for contact lenses. Instead I got a referal to an eye spe******t as it seems I now have a cataract forming in my right eye. Probably caused by years of lax safety on my part. Way too many times of tacking with out a hood, not wearing glasses under my hood, a few too many cases of flash burn, flash from other welders around me, I'm sure the list can go on and on. I started being cautious way too late to do me any good, If this will get just one of the newbies to welding to take eye protection seriously I will be happy. From my understanding I will have to go in for surgery to have it removed and have a new lens implanted into my eye, don't sound like fun to me at all. I have an appointment on Monday with the spe******t, as this progresses I will keep adding to this post to let you know the consequences of my stupidity. Dave

Does the cataract interfere with your vision?

[dabar39]

vision interferance

Yes, very much so. I had been having problems with my right eye being a little blurry. A cataract is basically a growth of fluid on top of your lens that eventually hardens and as it hardens it begins to cloud up blocking proper vision. Left untreated it will block vision in the eye, I was told it could end being like trying to look through frosted glass (the kind that is in most bathroom windows). You are still able to see light but not the images. My understanding is that it takes many years to progress to that point. The longer it is left untreated, the better chance the lens has to be removed and an implant put in its place. Also I was told by the doctor that it is generally thought that it is caused mainly by exposure to ultra violet rays and microwave rays. He also told me that weldors and airline pilots have the highest percentage of cataracts compared to other proffessions. I am hoping it can be handled quickly and easily, but I'm still thinking it ain't gonna be no fun, and probably expensive too. Dave

[shorerider16]

Won't safety glasses help?

I have been told by many sources that modern safety glasses block something like 99% of the harmful rays from any sort of arc welding, whether it is someone working nearby of light getting past your hood. Have I been mislead? Its also kind of ironic that a couple of the guys I work under keep telling me I need to learn to tack without my lid. I feel like telling them I know how to be stupid, but I just don't want too.

[TomVeatch]

... I am hoping it can be handled quickly and easily, but I'm still thinking it ain't gonna be no fun, and probably expensive too.

It can be. I've had cataract surgery with lens replacement in both eyes within the last two years. It's not fun, but it is simple outpatient surgery. As I recall, after each surgery, I had to wear a patch/shield over the eye for a few days and it was about 6 weeks before vision in the eye had settled to the point that a new eyeglass prescription could be written.

But, as always, YMMV.

[TomVeatch]

I have been told by many sources that modern safety glasses block something like 99% of the harmful rays from any sort of arc welding, whether it is someone working nearby of light getting past your hood. Have I been mislead? Its also kind of ironic that a couple of the guys I work under keep telling me I need to learn to tack without my lid. I feel like telling them I know how to be stupid, but I just don't want too.

They are talking about blocking the invisible Ultra-Violet (UV) light that can and does burn the eyes and skin. Those rays penetrate the eyelid and cause damage whether or not the eyes are closed. Simply closing the eyes while tacking doesn't prevent eye damage.

Safety glasses, depending on the material they are made of, can block the invisible UV rays, but that doesn't address the whole problem. What about the high intensity visible light from the arc? Think of using a magnifying glass to focus sunlight on a small spot. The lens of your eye does the same thing when it focuses the visible light from an arc onto the retina of your eye. The dark shade of the hood reduces the intensity and helps to prevent retinal burns from the visible light. If the safety glasses are dark enough, they can do the same thing, but that still leaves the rest of the face unprotected from the UV.

Wear a full face hood and cover exposed skin when arc welding. The reduction in eye problems and skin cancers in your later years will be thanks enough.

[shorerider16]

Safety glasses, depending on the material they are made of, can block the invisible UV rays, but that doesn't address the whole problem. What about the high intensity visible light from the arc? Think of using a magnifying glass to focus sunlight on a small spot. The lens of your eye does the same thing when it focuses the visible light from an arc onto the retina of your eye. The dark shade of the hood reduces the intensity and helps to prevent retinal burns from the visible light. If the safety glasses are dark enough, they can do the same thing, but that still leaves the rest of the face unprotected from the UV.

I always wear hood when welding, what I meant is that the safety glasses will offer protection from reflections or other welders in the area. Sorry if I confused anyone

[Bert]

Dabar39,
How are things going with you? What did the spe******t say during this last exam?
bert

[Homeschoolweldor]

I haven't been wearing safety glasses under my hood, but that's about to change

[wireburner]

I haven't been wearing safety glasses under my hood, but that's about to change

I have not been wearing safety glasses under my hood ever(1year and a half)OPPS!!!!!!!

[dabar39]

trip to the spe******t

Well I went Monday for my first consultation with the eye spe******t. It cost me $185.00 to find out what I already knew, I can't see properly out of my right eye. He says when I go back in two weeks he'll know if he can do some sort of laser surgery to dissolve the fluid in front of my lens or if they have to cut the eye open to remove the cataract. He also said I may be lucky ( as the cataract doesn't appear to be drying out yet) and not have to do the lens implant as I caught the problem early on. We'll see how lucky I am in two more weeks. Dave

[Bert]

Thanks for the reply...Did you ask the spe******t for a refund since you knew what he told you already??? I LOVE doctors!!!
Pay 'em big bucks so they can guess....
bert

[HMW]

good luck dabar, keep us posted on how you make out. they can do alot with eyes these days. Course we should help them by being more careful. this makes me pay more attention now.