Welder's Eye (Arc Eye)

Welder's eye occurs in those incautious enough to engage in electric arc welding without the normal eye protection. It can also affect other people working in the vicinity who are not adequately protected by the use of screens.

For those people who are exposed, after a few hours, the eyes become intensely red and painful, with tearing, spasm of the lids, and a sensation as if they are full of sand.

This is an acute form of conjunctivitis with damage occurring to the outer layer of the cornea (also known as the epithelium) caused by the intense ultraviolet light radiation emitted by an electric welding arc. The radiation damage causes the outer layers of the corneas to strip off, exposing the underlying nerve endings.

Recovery is the rule, but it is usually necessary for the affected person to remain quiet with both eyes kept closed under pads for two or three days. Antibiotic eye drops are used to prevent infection.

A proper risk assessment should be carried out, not only for the welding staff but also for those people who work in the vicinity. The risk assessment should identify all those at risk and the controls, which need to be put in place. The assessment should be monitored and reviewed whenever there is a change in the task or on a yearly basis.

The welding helmet and or goggles should be inspected on a regular basis to ensure that they are still fit for the task and there are no cracks, which can let in the ultraviolet light.