I was using the angle grinder in the workshop yesterday. I was wearing eye protection but it was in a confined space. Once finished I showered and washed all the grit and dust off. Just as I went to bed, some hours later, I touched my right eye and it started to irritate, to the point it kept me awake a couple of hours. I clearly had something in my eye but when I woke up this morning, all was well so I assumed it had sorted itself out. Then this afternoon it started to irritate again. Off to my optician (vision express) who couldn't help but recommended Boots optician or Specsavers. Boots couldn't fit me in. Specsavers sorted me with an immediate appointment and confirmed a spec stuck in my iris. They couldn't get it out but made an immediate referral to the eye clinic at my local hospital, telling me to go home and await a call from the hospital. I'd hadn't been home long enough to drink a cup of tea when the hospital rang and told me to come in straight away A specialist eye doctor set to work with numbing drops and a cotton bud and got the spec out. She then produce a small device she referred to as a 'drill' to get the rust stain out, as apparently that can lead to further consequences. After near messing my pants at the thought of someone going near my eye with a drill, she told me that the very fine point was a rubber type substance. Now this drill bit did hurt, not much but enough. The pain only lasted seconds and I was sent home with antibiotic eye drops.
Now 6 hours later, the numbing drops have long since worn off, my eye is stinging and watering (the hospital warned me this was likely) and I can't sleep. I'm pretty sure the spec was transferred into my eye from my hands or hair, rather than at the time of using the grinder.
Moral of the story is always wear appropriate PPE of course, but be aware fine dust can get transferred into your eyes long after the event.
Also a bit shout out to specsavers for fitting me in, when I'm not one of thier customers, they were clearly busy & it was near closing time and of course to the NHS who saw to me without delay.
Anyone want to buy a grinder?
Now 6 hours later, the numbing drops have long since worn off, my eye is stinging and watering (the hospital warned me this was likely) and I can't sleep. I'm pretty sure the spec was transferred into my eye from my hands or hair, rather than at the time of using the grinder.
Moral of the story is always wear appropriate PPE of course, but be aware fine dust can get transferred into your eyes long after the event.
Also a bit shout out to specsavers for fitting me in, when I'm not one of thier customers, they were clearly busy & it was near closing time and of course to the NHS who saw to me without delay.
Anyone want to buy a grinder?