Arc Eye

[Mr2madmad]

As the title says Arc Eye.

Not been mig welding too long so am still new, replacing the entire passenger door sill lenght on my MR2 turbo which has also included jack point box section skin inner wheel arch skin and entire lower section behind rear bumper, going ok thus far.

I have some safety gear bought an auto dimming helmet off ebay, leather gloves and long sleve burnproof top from Arco, got a couple of fire extinguishers etc but today like a total prat i welded an inch without my helmet on, it was in the boot so was pretty dark like the helmet is usually.

Surprisingly the weld came out ok, not too sure about the mince pies.

How long does arceye take to show up?

Its been about 7 hours since I exposed my eyes and nothing hurting or saw yet, face was about 2 foot away also but i know UV can travel pretty well.

If it does show up any tips on treatment?

Thanks

 

[brightspark]

As the title says Arc Eye.

Not been mig welding too long so am still new, replacing the entire passenger door sill lenght on my MR2 turbo which has also included jack point box section skin inner wheel arch skin and entire lower section behind rear bumper, going ok thus far.

I have some safety gear bought an auto dimming helmet off ebay, leather gloves and long sleve burnproof top from Arco, got a couple of fire extinguishers etc but today like a total prat i welded an inch without my helmet on, it was in the boot so was pretty dark like the helmet is usually.

Surprisingly the weld came out ok, not too sure about the mince pies.

How long does arceye take to show up?

Its been about 7 hours since I exposed my eyes and nothing hurting or saw yet, face was about 2 foot away also but i know UV can travel pretty well.

If it does show up any tips on treatment?

Thanks

go to bed tonight and if you don't wake up in a few hours feeling as if you have sand in your eyes they are bloodshot and streaming you will be ok only ever had it once

 

[Alan Reynolds]

It'll show up as a feeling of grit in your eye, usually within 12 hours. It goes within a day as the cornea heals quickly.

This borne out with laser eye treatment when they lift your cornea.

 

[Mr2madmad]

Ok cheers brightspark

Won't do that again

 

[grim_d]

You welded, without a helmet, with your eyes open?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Do you normally wear glasses?

 

[brightspark]

You welded, without a helmet, with your eyes open?

don't tell me you haven't ever tacked something up and squinted without the mask

 

[Richard.]

Arc eye has no written rules as it’s all dependent on the level of exposure. I’ve had it a few times nearly always from someone else’s arc.
Generally it comes to haunt you around 4-8hrs after the flash
Depending on severity can last up to 2 full days before it starts to clear up. Most cases You’ll feel a bit better by the next morning.
Starts off with itchy eyes, followed by streaming tears and sensitivity to light. By the time it’s fully set in you will be in excruciating pain and your eyes will feel like you’ve rubbed a hand full of sand in them.
There is no remedy for it other than time. You’ll hear the old damp tea bags crap been talked about by welders but it doesn’t work.
What helps a bit with the pain is if you tie a soft t shirt around your head tightly
This will force and keep your eyes firmly shut. They will generate tears under the eye lids and help keep them soothed.
It will be a long sleepless night if you’ve got it.

 

[Mr2madmad]

You welded, without a helmet, with your eyes open?

Yer I did, soon realised something was odd when I could not see a thing thinking hang on why and then the oh thats why hit, proberbly looked directly at it for about 2-3 seconds.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Arc eye has no written rules as it’s all dependent on the level of exposure. I’ve had it a few times nearly always from someone else’s arc.
Generally it comes to haunt you around 4-8hrs

I have had it once due to my own stupidity, waiting for the arc to strike before using the mask. I didn't understand the physics behind it at that time.

I went into hospital with eyes screwed tight shut and full of virtual sand. The treatment was anaesthetic drops in the eyes. Now then, we have all seen the drippy romantic scenes where a patient comes round and sees the most heavenly nurse? That was largely what happened to me. The fog cleared from the centre of my vision and there she was.

 

[Richard.]

I’ve heard those drops really sting when they go in?

 

[ajlelectronics]

I’ve heard those drops really sting when they go in?

I think they did! It was over 40 years ago though the memory, like my vision at that time is a little hazy!

 

[Kent]

Arc eye has no written rules as it’s all dependent on the level of exposure. I’ve had it a few times nearly always from someone else’s arc.
Generally it comes to haunt you around 4-8hrs after the flash
Depending on severity can last up to 2 full days before it starts to clear up. Most cases You’ll feel a bit better by the next morning.
Starts off with itchy eyes, followed by streaming tears and sensitivity to light. By the time it’s fully set in you will be in excruciating pain and your eyes will feel like you’ve rubbed a hand full of sand in them.
There is no remedy for it other than time. You’ll hear the old damp tea bags crap been talked about by welders but it doesn’t work.
What helps a bit with the pain is if you tie a soft t shirt around your head tightly
This will force and keep your eyes firmly shut. They will generate tears under the eye lids and help keep them soothed.
It will be a long sleepless night if you’ve got it.

Tea bags work and work for many new eye issues . Trick idols and wet without milk . They subscribed to cure just help with symptoms som e which in my experience they do . Why isn't it ok to sit with tea bags I we your eyes in your daughters school concert is a different kettle of fish - no fish are rubbish for arc eye but yes bags work to alienate symptoms

 

[bourbon]

My own rule, I don't pick my electrode holder up if my mask isn't on my head. I'll set up, then drop the mask down. Only then do I even go near the metal with the rod

 

[Richard.]

Tea bags work and work for many new eye issues . Trick idols and wet without milk . They subscribed to cure just help with symptoms som e which in my experience they do . Why isn't it ok to sit with tea bags I we your eyes in your daughters school concert is a different kettle of fish - no fish are rubbish for arc eye but yes bags work to alienate symptoms

Are you typing on the sherbet Kent?

 

[pedrobedro]

Are you typing on the sherbet Kent?

I thought it was in code

no fish are rubbish for arc eye but yes bags work to alienate symptoms

This sounds like something from Allo Allo, the policeman secret agent.

 

[grim_d]

don't tell me you haven't ever tacked something up and squinted without the mask

Never! I always tightly close them.

I have had the full face grinding shield or safety glasses on my head and went to tack up before flashing myself and realising what a wazzock I am....more than once

Yer I did, soon realised something was odd when I could not see a thing thinking hang on why and then the oh thats why hit, proberbly looked directly at it for about 2-3 seconds.

It happens, it just sounded in your first post that it was deliberate!

 

[Ruffian]

Are you typing on the sherbet Kent?

I don't understand all of it.

But the cold damp tea bags I completely agree with. Arc eye once and was a relief with tea bags.

Only got it the once as learn your lesson quickly with stuff like that, only get one set of eyes.

 

[pedrobedro]

We use loose leaf tea so I'm going to need an alternative. Cucumber slices are good for stinging eyes. You will not get arc eye through glasses or a shield and I always put mine on before starting anything in the shed, even plain ones will do the job.

 

[Robbie260]

I got it at college striked up with my helmet still up felt and looked really really dazed after head spinning sort of thing. Was made to take the afternoon off. Then the sore eyes started its like huge lumps of grit are stuck between you eyelids and eyes. It took a week for mine to go away. Had to put eye moisturizing drops in every few hours so id at least get an hour or twos sleep at a time at night. Bunk mate was really fedup with it by the end of it.