Since childhood we have been told: “Never look at welding – you will go blind!”. These words sounded so frightening that we remembered them for the rest of our lives. Now, when we see welding work, we all try to turn our heads away as quickly as possible and not look at the welder in a protective helmet. But is welding really as dangerous for your eyesight as we were scared? What happens to your eyes if you look at the bright flash of a welding machine for even a moment? It's time to figure out how true this is and what risks are hidden in such a seemingly innocent action.
Looking at welding is really dangerous — now you will find out why. Image source: alter220.ru
Why you shouldn't look at welding
Let's remember once and for all – looking at welding is very dangerous. This is not just a myth from childhood, but a reality.
Looking at welding is harmful to your eyesight due to the powerful radiation that is emitted during the operation of the welding machine. Eyes can be damaged by several types of radiation at once, even if you look at welding for just a few seconds.
First, welding emits ultraviolet radiation (UV), which can cause a corneal burn known as ophthalmia. In welding slang, this injury is best known as “catching a bunny”.
When working with welding, it is necessary to wear a protective mask. Image source: Reddit
In addition to UV rays, welding also emits infrared radiation, which can damage the retina. Long-term exposure to infrared light can lead to partial or complete loss of vision, and this process is irreversible. Therefore, it is important to avoid even short-term contact with such light.
Bright flashes of light during welding can cause temporary blindness and unpleasant light spots in front of the eyes. This happens because the eyes do not have time to adapt to the sharp and powerful light pulse.
We must not forget about physical threats: when welding, hot sparks and small metal particles are formed, which can get into the eyes and cause mechanical damage. That is why welders always use protective masks with filters that block dangerous rays and protect the eyes from mechanical injuries.
Read also: The most unexpected reasons why a person can go blind
Symptoms of an eye burn
Symptoms of welding eye burns may not appear immediately. Usually, the first signs appear several hours after a person looks at a bright light.
The main symptoms include severe pain, a feeling of “sand in the eyes”, stinging, redness, profuse lacrimation, and photophobia. These signs can significantly worsen well-being, and sometimes even make it impossible to open the eyes.
Welding can cause blindness – it's true. Image source: Pinterest
Eye burns come in varying degrees of severity. With a first degree burn, the eyes turn red, there is lacrimation and slight clouding of the cornea. Second degree burn is more serious – corneal erosions form, blisters appear on the skin around the eyes, and the cornea itself becomes noticeably cloudier. Third degree burn is characterized by severe clouding of the cornea and necrotic changes in the skin. With fourth, the most severe degree, the cornea becomes almost opaque, the tissues of the eye and conjunctiva undergo necrosis, which can lead to complete loss of vision.
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What to do if you looked at welding
If you accidentally looked at welding, the main thing is to stay calmand take immediate action to minimize possible consequences. First, do not rub your eyes, even if they begin to hurt or tingle. This will only increase irritation and worsen the condition. If you have serious symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. No self-medication!
If you have any health problems, you should see a doctor. Image source: Reddit
Welding eye burns are not just a myth, but a very real danger that we were told about as children. Looking at welding without protection can lead to serious vision problems.
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However, this is not the only thing that scared us as children. If you want to remember our other childhood fears, be sure to read our article “5 horror stories from childhood from a scientific point of view.”