Welding and safety on eyesight ?

[W.olly]

Since i had a bad eye haemorrhage just over a year ago, loosing most my sight in my good eye, some folk have been saying i should not be welding. Be careful etc etc.

I have Diabetic retinopathy so have dodgy eyes anyway as it is and at times struggle to see when welding, as with even bright lights on the road for example i get head aches and strong brightness can make seeing a little blurry.

I have been wondering due to folk i know, some welders, saying i need to either stop or be carefull welding.


What have folk found on here about this ? true or false ?

And yep, i wear a proper mask etc

 

[bricol]

I'm not sure asking a random collection of welding enthusiasts of completely unknown medial abilities such an important question . . .

I have asked various opticians over the years about the same thing, after giving myself bad arc-eye as a teenager with no mask. My current one spotted something at the back of one eye, and given a family history of issues, I got sent to see a consultant for a few years - given the all clear to carry on as normal.

So I'd suggest asking your optician, or assuming your eye issues needed proper treatment, your consultant.

 

[Migmac]

I don’t take risks with my eyes but I still do what I like doing. Just make sure you protect what you’ve got.

 

[Barking Mat]

You need to talk to an opthalmologist who specialises in, or has an understanding of diabetic retinopathy.

As much as this is a great and comprehensive forum, that's pushing it.

Best wishes.

 

[W.olly]

I'm not sure asking a random collection of welding enthusiasts of completely unknown medial abilities such an important question . . .

I have asked various opticians over the years about the same thing, after giving myself bad arc-eye as a teenager with no mask. My current one spotted something at the back of one eye, and given a family history of issues, I got sent to see a consultant for a few years - given the all clear to carry on as normal.

So I'd suggest asking your optician, or assuming your eye issues needed proper treatment, your consultant.

I have an eye check up in two months with eh specialist. I am welding a lot more recently so really wondering if welding can affect eyes even with the usual masks.

 

[W.olly]

You need to talk to an opthalmologist who specialises in, or has an understanding of diabetic retinopathy.

As much as this is a great and comprehensive forum, that's pushing it.

Best wishes.

I agree they should know best.

BUT

a few years ago i was told tings like i can not have laser surgery again and need invasive suregery.

Then the next time i found the opposite reply. etc

I am wondering if folk with the same problem i have has suffered or not really. Nowadays i find it better to ask people who actually with with these problems than the specialists.

Yes they are that bad.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I thought the whole point of wearing a welding mask was that it offers 100% eye protection (if used correctly....theres always one!)...if it doesn't I'd be quite annoyed!

 

[Barking Mat]

I agree they should know best.

BUT

a few years ago i was told tings like i can not have laser surgery again and need invasive suregery.

Then the next time i found the opposite reply. etc

I am wondering if folk with the same problem i have has suffered or not really. Nowadays i find it better to ask people who actually with with these problems than the specialists.

Yes they are that bad.

From what I've just background read about it, (not much, just skimmed through), seems it's more related to diabetic neuropathy.

So from my amateur understanding, it's probably not the welding, but just the deterioration as can only be expected from diabetes, I think, but don't quote, me, and I'm sorry to have said this.

I think*, and don't quote me, but if you're wearing suitable masks, you should be ok.

* I'm not an ophthalmologist.

I thought the whole point of wearing a welding mask was that it offers 100% eye protection (if used correctly....theres always one!)...if it doesn't I'd be quite annoyed!

Yes I agree.

@W.olly I'd imagine* welding isn't aggravating the underlying issue, but (?) It may not be helping it is perhaps more the question, that's more the issue I guess.

 

[W.olly]

I thought the whole point of wearing a welding mask was that it offers 100% eye protection (if used correctly....theres always one!)...if it doesn't I'd be quite annoyed!

exactly what i thought. But when folk say different, that be welders aswel, i need to ask in my situation to the vast amount on here. .

seems mad that it doesnt as if somebody with good eye sight can weld for say 30 years have no ill affect. what can it do to somebody with eye problems.

 

[Barking Mat]

If you bing or google, diabetic retinopathy and welding, nothing comes up.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

exactly what i thought. But when folk say different, that be welders aswel, i need to ask in my situation to the vast amount on here. .

I'd get a proper professional to advise if you are worried (if only we had a resident PPE expert!)...my thinking is that the mask basically gives me full eye protection especially at the sorts of power levels I'm typically welding at. I'm sure people are genuinely trying to help but usually when you dig around it's second or third hand info based on very little factual evidence.

Having said that I do wear glasses and my eyes are definitely getting worse over the years

...but I'm no expert and my opinion is based only on the fact that good welding masks must be safety tested for UV protection....

 

[Barking Mat]

I'd get a proper professional to advise if you are worried (if only we had a resident PPE expert!)...my thinking is that the mask basically gives me full protection especially at the sorts of power levels I'm typically welding at. I'm sure people are genuinely trying to help but usually when you dig around it's second or third hand info based on very little factual evidence.

Having said that I do wear glasses and my eyes are definitely getting worse over the years

I think that's probably way beyond @Parm s remit.

 

[Kram]

Id say if your wearing a mask properly, you'd be more at risk of a creation maiming you, than doing actual further damage to the eyes.

 

[AKN]

Perhaps you should turn this on its head. Instead of looking for an opthalmologist who specialises in your conditions to advise about the impact of welding, which they probably don’t understand, try looking for an occupational health person who specialises in the protection of eyesight who understands the impact of welding on it. Maybe a call to The Welding Institute may point you in the right direction.

 

[Barking Mat]

Perhaps you should turn this on its head. Instead of looking for an opthalmologist who specialises in your conditions to advise about the impact of welding, which they probably don’t understand, try looking for an occupational health person who specialises in the protection of eyesight who understands the impact of welding on it. Maybe a call to The Welding Institute may point you in the right direction.

Top advice !

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Perhaps something @drjim can shed some light on, even if it's not his particular speciality?

 

[voipio]

It's a bit like ears. If you've been to a gig, and your ears are ringing after it, then you've probably done some damage. Much like looking directly at the sun. If your eyes feel funny afterwards, then damage is likely to have been done. Can't say I've ever had that sort of feeling after using a welding helmet, even one where the autodarkening lens kept "flashing" because the welding current and arc were too steady. I am not an opthalmologist.

 

[Parm]

This question is best answered by a medical specialist

 

[W.olly]

Perhaps you should turn this on its head. Instead of looking for an opthalmologist who specialises in your conditions to advise about the impact of welding, which they probably don’t understand, try looking for an occupational health person who specialises in the protection of eyesight who understands the impact of welding on it. Maybe a call to The Welding Institute may point you in the right direction.

Good idea.

ill do so. They IMO will know better then the hospital specialists.

And if nobody on here has had no ill affect on welding for years then it cant be causing any damage.

 

[mike os]

Do professional welders suffer with long term eye problems at a statistically significant divergence to the remaining population that is attributable directly to welding?

I suggest not otherwise the elfnsafey and Sue’m Grabit n Scarper would be all over it.

Afaik retinal damage with diabetes is a direct result of diabetes and not from external factors… which may not help

A correctly made and functional helmet should block out all uv and reduce light intensities to well below anything that will harm your eyes … this may rule out ‘brands’ from the far east.

EN 179 and 375 are the standard I believe? Any decent helmet will provide adequate protection., you get less light through a filter than you get outside on a sunny day.

If you are suffering from light sensitivity or other issues as a result of diabetes then obviously that will affect your ability to see when welding but with a proper mask I can’t see how it can directly affect your eyes any more than anyone else