A welder is at significant risk of eye injury. This underlies the need for appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Types of eye injuries include:
(1) welder's arc burn (UV radiation corneal injury)
(2) ocular thermal burns (from molten metal, other)
(3) foreign bodies including metallic dust and splinters
(4) conjunctivitis including chemical injury, smoke, etc
(5) laceration
(6) contusion
Injuries are more common when:
(1) using the welding torch
(2) grinding and sanding
(3) cleaning or brushing
(4) cutting
(5) assisting another welder
Interestingly a welder may have a strong magnet on hand for removal of metal pieces from the surface of the cornea and conjunctiva.
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Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology
