arc welding and arc eye?!
Question: Arc welding and arc eye?
iv been welding and 3 or 4 times i lifted up the mask and forgot to put it back down but only for about a second each time do you think i will get arc eye if so how badly?
Answers:
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It usually takes a couple of hours for the symptoms of Photokeratitis (arc eye) to appear. Normally, if you remove the cause, and I'm guessing you've stopped welding by now, you should be OK.
If your should develop any pain or visual symptoms, go see an an optometrist or ophthalmologist. It is curable and will clear fairly quickly. If you do need weld again, walk away from your project before lifting the mask, perhaps that will remind you to put the mask back down before you start welding again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photokerati…
You haven't said how long ago you did the welding. Arc eye typically starts 4 to 6 hours after the exposure so if it is longer than that then you have got away with it. Most welders adjust their masks so that they can flip it down easily and quickly when they start the weld just as they strike the arc. If you are going to do a lot of welding then you could invest in a mask that automatically adjusts the protection of the glass as the arc strikes. These are expensive but it means you don't have to remember to put your mask down.
Arc eye is a very severe form of conjuctivitis - it is quite literally sunburn of the eye ball - it is hellishly painful and if you had it you would be in no doubt you had it. If you do develop arc eye then you need to wear dark glasses, outdoors and indoors and get professional medical treatment.
Health and safety consultant 30 years experience of engineering industry.
it all depends on if each and every time you look directly into the arc, and for how long. if it was only 3 - 4 times, then no you should not get arc eyes, but if you continue to weld and it happens more often then it can happen.
best bet is if you watch TV tonight and your eyes start itching then you will have arc eyes.
good luck.
experience
3 or 4 times for only a second wont give you arc eye. doing it more times for a split second or 3 or 4 times for longer exposure and continuing to weld for a couple days in a row will do it. it takes a lot more than a little exposure to give you arc eye. that short amount of time wont be enough to burn your eye.
army welder.