Eye Health Facts
What is welding flash?
The bright light generated by some welding equipment is very high in UV content. And, just as too much UV outdoors can cause sunburn, so the UV light from welders can cause sunburn-like damage to the clear skin layer covering the front of the eye. Sometimes straight away but often a few hours after the welding flash, the damaged cells die and fall off, exposing the very sensitive, nerve-rich layers below. The pain and discomfort is such that most people make sure they never get welding flash a second time.
A similar effect can happen by spending a bright sunny day at the snow without sunglasses.
Eye Health Facts
UV and the eyes
Ultraviolet is invisible light just off the blue-violet end of the colour spectrum. Being short wavelengh, it is high energy, and as anyone with a sunburn will tell you, get enough of it and it damages tissue. High dose UV can cause eye lid sunburn, 'arc eye' and 'snowblindness' as it burns the cornea. But what about long-term exposure?
Long term UV exposure has been linked to cataracts, pterygia and macular degeneration. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens inside the eye leading to poorer vision and glare sensitivity. A pterygium is a connective tissue growth on the front of the eye, which can get inflamed and interfere with vision. Macular degeneration is a change in the retina at the back of the eye, reducing vision and is the most common cause of legal blindness.
Reduce your UV exposure with UV blocking lenses and a broad brimmed hat when out in the sun, and in time to come your eyes may thank you for it.