What to do if your eyes are hit by electric welding
During welding operations, the strong arc light may cause damage to the eyes, commonly known as "welding eyes" or "electrophotophthalmia". Recently, this topic has sparked heated discussions on major health forums and social media, with many netizens sharing their personal experiences and first aid methods. The following are detailed solutions and precautions for welding eyes.
1. Common symptoms of welding in the eyes
| Symptoms | Appearance time | duration |
|---|---|---|
| Stinging and burning sensation in eyes | 4-12 hours after exposure | 24-48 hours |
| photophobia, tearing | 6-8 hours after exposure | 1-3 days |
| Blepharospasm | 8-12 hours after exposure | 12-24 hours |
| blurred vision | 12-24 hours after exposure | 1-2 days |
2. Emergency treatment methods
1.Stop work immediately: Keep away from the welding environment to avoid secondary damage.
2.cold compress relief: Wrap ice cubes in a clean towel and apply cold compress to the eyelids (avoid direct contact with the eyeballs).
3.Artificial tear flushing: Use sterile saline or artificial tears to flush eyes to reduce irritation.
4.avoid rubbing eyes: Rubbing your eyes may aggravate corneal damage.
| Processing steps | Operational points | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| cold compress | 10-15 minutes each time, 30 minutes apart | Avoid cold temperatures |
| eye drops | Choose preservative-free artificial tears | No more than 4 times a day |
| Indications for medical treatment | Pain that lasts more than 48 hours | Corneal ulcer needs to be ruled out |
3. Preventive measures
1.Wear professional goggles: Choose a welding mask marked with “UV400” protection.
2.Working environment management: Set up isolation barriers to prevent others from entering the work area by mistake.
3.Check equipment regularly: Make sure the UV protection device of the welding machine is intact.
| protective equipment | Protection level | Replacement cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-darkening welding mask | DIN level 4 or above | 2 years or 5000 uses |
| UV protection goggles | ANSI Z87.1 standard | 1 year |
4. Clarification of common misunderstandings
1.Myth: Milk eye drops can relieve symptoms——May cause bacterial infection.
2.Myth: You can heal yourself by closing your eyes and resting.——Severe cases require antibiotic eye ointment treatment.
3.Myth: Ordinary sunglasses can protect you——Special welding protective goggles are required.
5. Reference for recovery time
| degree of damage | recovery time | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Mild (point-like detachment of corneal epithelium) | 24-36 hours | Cold compress + artificial tears |
| Moderate (superficial corneal damage) | 3-5 days | antibiotic eye ointment |
| Severe (deep corneal damage) | 1-2 weeks | Specialist treatment |
If symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical attention immediately. It is recommended that welding workers undergo annual eye examinations to detect potential injuries early. Through proper protection and timely treatment, permanent damage to the eyes caused by welding light can be effectively avoided.
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