Is welding dangerous for the eyes?

Jon Danniken · 2007-03-20T00:53:14+00:00

A poster here recently claimed that, regardless of welding helmet used, welding causes eye damage.Is that true?Additionally, it was also claimed that the cheap (AKA fifty dollar HF helmets) will allow more of this eye damage to occur than expensive helmets.Is that true?The reason for my concern is that if I am damaging my eyes every time I weld, I will sell the box tomorrow and never do it again; going blind is not worth the ability to weld.Further, I am trusting my ability to see on a fifty dollar HF helmet, but if it is unable to protect my eyes from damaging rays, that too will be gone (I use safety glasses under the helmet, as the instructions which came with the helmet instructed me to do).So, aside from unsubstantiated claimes, what is the truth here regarding welding and ocular damage?Thanks for any insight into this,Jon

Mar 20, 2007 27 Replies

Rate this thread:

Stuart Wheaton 19 years ago

I weld every day, and the last time I asked my ophthalmologist about things, his response was that the only changes/damage he saw in my eyes were likely the results of 40 years of life more than 20 years of welding.

I think you are more likely to get grit or spatter in your eyes, or trash your lungs, or hurt your hearing while welding with any ANSI compliant helmet than you are likely to hurt your vision through the actions of the arc.

Do be careful about wearing light colors, I think a filthy leather jacket reflects less UV off your chest into your helmet than a new, clean, green coat. A very bright white room would not be my first choice, either.

I'll chime in for the 951P and the Huntsman 1105VS lens. I love it.... I just used a Speedglas fixed 10 shade helmet for a week, and I got way more flash as it kicked in, and the helmet fit quite poorly. I hated it. I'm so happy my new 1105VS came in today!

Stuart

Vote

pgrey 19 years ago

So... what was the difference?

Peter

Vote

Jon Danniken 19 years ago

[snip]

Ernie, thank you so much for your experienced and rational response. It is good to know that what I had assumed based on my own "common sense" is spot-on with the reality of the situation.

Thanks again,

Jon

Vote

Paul Wilson 19 years ago

So far so good for me, as I am 60 years old and have welded for over 36 years. I use the regular old fashion helmet, not the newer auto darkenning helmets. Just use a dark lens. If you can see the work before you strike the arc, then go darker with the lens. Now this is my rule for me and my employees. I have never burned my eyes, just lucky. Most of the time someone else will do that to you and not to yourself. Safety is the rule as always.

Vote

Kryptoknight 19 years ago

Vote

Nick Mueller 19 years ago

Just an addition that shows that the helmet isn't all: Had a bit of a flashy-feeling in my eyes yesterday night. Checked my helmet today without finding anything. When I continued welding, I realized what it was. I had a black sweatshit on with big white letters on the chest.

Nick

Vote