Ouch!!!!

notjustair · Jun 14, 2014

I did some fabricating in the shed today. I had my welding helmet on the ehole time I welded but cut some steel with the torch and no goggles. I haven't burned my eyes before, but today was different somehow.

They burn like fire - especially the left. I seem to remember someone saying it lasts three days. Man I hope no. Bring light like a screen makes it worse and so does keeping it closed for some reAson.

jon f mn · Jun 14, 2014

Never had burned eyes start that soon, it's always at 3am. The good news is if it really is flash burn it only lasts a few hours til it quits hurting. At least that's the way it has always worked for me. And it will feel like you have sand in your eyes. If it burns you may have something else.

Deluxe · Jun 14, 2014

I have burned my eyes two or three times. They feel like hot sand in them . It usually lasts a couple of days but the first night is the worst. Good luck. Deluxe

MN Scott · Jun 14, 2014

An acetylene torch is not bright enough to burn your eyes like an arc is. I cut with clear safety glasses and never any problems. Now an electric arc of any kind is a different story. Just a few flashes will cause problems. You didn't get any fumes or smoke in your eyes did you?

Anonymous-0 · Jun 14, 2014

That sounds right. I thought it was always just coincidence, but you are right on the 3 a.m. Feels like sand and a terrible irritation. Always kept a tube of a soft salve on hand for such eye irritations, actually more of a lotion, from the doctor. It was usually better the next day. Can't remember the name of it though.

waltdavies · Jun 14, 2014

Check your arc welding helmet for leaks they can be vary small and you won't notice them when welding due to the arc. Hold it up to a bright light like the sun and look it over real good fr om the inside.
Walt

504 · Jun 15, 2014

slice a raw potato and put it on your eye lids and go to sleep. It will be fine in the AM(old wife's tale that works)

Two Dogs · Jun 15, 2014

You may have a very tiny piece of slag in your eye only the eye doctor can find. It happened to me once when what I thought was a flash burn lasted too long. TDF

NNP · Jun 15, 2014

agree it sounds like something in there,
especially the bright light and eye closed thing. (the eyelid is pushing on it then.)
Picked up a shard in a factory once, same symptoms.
Factory medic couldn't see anything when rinsing my eye, real hospital found it.
almost microscopic steel shard stuck right in, eyelid pressing on it when blinking or shut made it worse.
They got it out, no long term damage.

UncleTom · Jun 15, 2014

Never take chances with eye sight. People take eye sight for granted until they have trouble.

ohiojim · Jun 15, 2014

if you do any amount of welding you will eventually get welder burn,..have your doctor give you a prescription for boric acid and keep it on hand, it will work wonders, as for the taters on the eyes it might work but you'll play hell sleeping....

retired farmer · Jun 15, 2014

You better go to the eye doctor right away and have them checked. Don't want to lose your sight.

Blackhole49 · Jun 15, 2014

I did it with a cutting torch 35 years ago. Felt like sand in my eyes for a couple of days. Ever since, won"t even heat something without at least welding goggles.

Lazy WP · Jun 15, 2014

Its always been about 3 am for me to. Worst welder burn I ever had, was when I wasn't even close to the welder. Another guy was doing alot of welding in the shop. I think I was cutting parts for in, not even real close to him, but my safety glasses must have reflected the arc into my eyes. For me the burn is usually gone by about noon the next day, and pretty tolerable by about 8 am.

T in NE · Jun 15, 2014

I usually put a bright light on whatever I am cutting/heating, if I can't do it in the sun. The contrast is what gets me. That's why I also put a small red LED up under my dash and wire it to its own switch or to come on with the headlights.

black · Jun 15, 2014

In my younger days I worked in a fab shop and always bunrt with clear glasses and never suffured , but arc welding will destroy your eyes if you don't use the proper shade of lens .

Keith Molden · Jun 15, 2014

Yes the sliced potatoe does work. I usually just cut one in half and put over my eyes. I know it sounds crazy, but it will take the burn out of your eyes. Just my thoughts, Keith

Dalex · Jun 15, 2014

That's how I got my first flash burn , tiny sliver of a crack in the corner of the helmet

Anonymous-0 · Jun 15, 2014

Always best to go to a Dr. or the emergency to see if something got in your eye. Guys that don't wear at least a shade 3 lens when using a cutting torch CAN damage their eyes over time. My dad knew a guy that went blind and all he ever did was oxy/acet welding and cutting without the proper lens. They don't do eye transplants!

The effects of a flash usually happen hours later and it feels like someone is sandblasting your eyes. Effects usually go away the next day. If it's a bad flash, the Dr. will put drops/cream in your eye and an eye patch for a couple of days. Luckily I've never had one that bad. I have had rust and metal filings in my eye before so like I said, it's always a good idea to get your eyes checked. Most times I got flashed, I remember seeing the big white spot when I went to strike an arc again. Had to wait a bit till I could see properly.

Dr. Walt · Jun 16, 2014

First, DON'T RUB YOUR EYES, you'll only make things WORSE! Next, go immediately to a Doctor and have them check to make sure that you don't have any foreign bodies in your eyes. The Dr. will put drops in your eyes to deaden the nerves, and will usually give you a prescription for 1% Pontocaine Ophthalmic Ointment - USE IT !

BTDT !

I keep a small bottle of Pontocaine eye drops & a tube of Pontocaine Ophthalmic Ointment in the First Aid box in my shop for just such an occurence.

Doc

Ouch!!!!

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