There are many professions that are in the high-risk group for eye damage. The leading position in this top list is occupied by the profession of a welder. Specialists of this particular area most often have sore eyes from welding. What to do, what folk methods will help and in which cases you should definitely consult a doctor? We’ll talk about all this right now!
Hazardous exposure
First of all, we suggest considering factors negatively affecting the health of both the welder and the people around him. These include:
- radiation - infrared and ultraviolet;
- smoke;
- blinding light welding;
- splashes of melting metal;
- sparks.
Smoke and other harmful substances generated during the welding process are mainly harmful to the respiratory system, but the eyes are also subject to negative effects. Smoke can irritate the mucous membranes and lead to inflammation of the eye tissues. No less dangerous sparks and splashes of metal. Eye contact may even lead to complete loss of vision.
The destructive effect on the eyes is exerted by infrared and ultraviolet radiation. In general, they are not perceived by the organs of vision, but this does not cease to be dangerous. Ultraviolet light causes damage to the lens, ocular retina, and cornea. It is worth noting that the ultraviolet radiation during the welding process significantly exceeds the level of solar radiation, thus causing photochemical damage to the retina. Of course, a short exposure does not deprive the organs of vision of the ability to recover, but if the welder often works without a mask, there is a high risk of loss of vision - partial or complete. Infrared radiation dramatically heats the tissue, causing severe burns. The combination of two types of radiation at once only exacerbates the situation. It is worth noting that infrared radiation in combination with the bright blue light that accompanies welding can lead to photochemical damage to the retina.
Symptoms
The defeat of the organs of vision by ultraviolet radiation is called electrophthalmia. Most often, it arises due to non-compliance with safety rules during welding.
Symptoms of this lesion depend on the degree of burns. There are 4 of them; for each, certain signs are characteristic. For example, a mild burn is characterized by burning and itching, the cornea of the eye becomes cloudy, and the conjunctiva turns red. A moderate burn can be determined by the following signs: severe pain, corneal erosion, hypersensitivity to light, a film may form on the conjunctiva. A severe burn of the eyes is characterized by pulling pain, a sharp decrease in vision, a sensation as if a foreign element had entered the eye. There is clouding of the cornea, the eyelids swell. For the most severe - 4 degrees - tissue necrosis, blindness, severe pain in the eyes are characteristic. The conjunctiva gradually dies, the person does not have the opportunity to raise his eyelids, the cornea becomes colorless.
If my eyes hurt a lot after welding, what should I do? To begin with, you should pay attention to other signs of damage to the organ of vision. Among them - photophobia, lacrimation, redness and swelling. All this indicates a serious eye burn obtained during the welding process.
First aid
If the eyes hurt from welding, what to do in such a situation, of course, the doctor knows. However, before contacting a specialist, it is necessary to provide first aid to the affected eyes. It is necessary to take an anesthetic. According to the reviews of welders, you should use Ketanov tablets. The next stage is washing the eyes with boiled water. She must be cool. The procedure is simple: just dip your face in clean water. By the way, this will help to relieve pain.
Are the eyes sore from welding? What to do if metal particles get into them? Doctors recommend trying to gently clean a foreign body with a sterile cotton pad. After that, a cold compress should be applied to the affected eyelids, which should be kept for about 10 minutes. It will be useful to apply any antiseptic to the eyelid and under it. A tetracycline ointment is perfect for this purpose. A sterile dressing can be applied to the affected eyes. Immediately after first aid, you must consult a doctor who will not only see how seriously the eye is affected, but also will prescribe treatment.
Traditional treatments
Are the eyes sore from welding? What to do if a spark or foreign objects get into them? Special drops can help damaged eyes. Please note: no medication should be used without consulting a specialist. The following remedies will help relieve pain and prevent corneal damage:
- Anesthetic drops. Solutions for washing or drops called Lidocaine, Novocaine or Inocaine reduce the pain threshold.
- Antibacterial agents. After eliminating the pain, you should protect your eyes from infections. To remove puffiness, get rid of purulent secretions and remove inflammation, you can use the drug "Sulfacyl sodium." If your eyes hurt after welding, doctors will tell you what to do with a burn of the cornea. They recommend using Normaks, Tsipromed or Levomycetin drops. Phloxal will also cope with this task. The listed drugs have an antibacterial effect. Among the best remedies for instant removal of puffiness - drops "Dexamethasone".
- To restore the cornea. If your eyes hurt after welding, what should be done to restore corneal cells? The final stage is the use of preparations "Vitasik", "Emoxylin", "Derinat". All these drugs not only accelerate the process of epithelization, but also improve blood flow, and allow faster absorption of blood in the mucous membrane of the organs of vision.
Ophthalmologists say: if you follow all the recommendations and use the right drugs, you can get rid of an eye burn in just three days!
Home Recovery Methods
Often, welding specialists ask the question: “I've seen enough of welding, my eyes hurt. What to do?". We recommend resorting to traditional medicine. There are several treatments suitable for home use. Let's consider them in more detail!
Honey
This product perfectly helps relieve puffiness. In addition, honey can prevent corneal clouding. Often, welders note that such a tool very quickly restores corneal tissue, the epithelium heals faster. The thing is that honey contains a large amount of folic and pantothenic acids, various vitamins. Got welding, eyes hurt? What to do? Lotions with a solution of honey! For this you need a tablespoon of honey, 150 milliliters of warm boiled water and cotton pads. Honey should be mixed well in water, soaked with cotton wool in the resulting solution and put on damaged eyes. Such a compress should be updated every half hour. Thanks to this remedy, redness, pain in the eyes will pass.
Black tea
Do your eyes hurt after welding? What to do at home? Try a remedy like strong black tea. It allows you to quickly remove swelling, redness, constricts blood vessels. For affected organs of vision, you need a freshly brewed drink. It must be cooled to room temperature, soaked in cotton swabs and put on forever for twenty minutes. After this, you need to change the cotton pads, repeat the procedure 3-4 times.
Raw potatoes
If after welding it burns the eyes, a potato mask will help. For her, you need fresh potatoes - 2-3 pieces. The vegetable should be grated on a coarse grater, put on a gauze bandage folded in several layers, carefully wrapped and applied to the eyelids for half an hour. Potatoes will reduce pain and burning, relieve swelling.
Chamomile
Are your eyes sore from welding? What to do? Traditional medicine says: it is necessary to reduce the inflammatory process and get rid of the turbidity in the eyes with the help of ordinary chamomile. For one glass of hot boiled water you will need a couple of tablespoons of pharmacy chamomile. Insist 10 minutes, then strain, cool and make compresses. Change a cotton swab every 15 minutes.
Oak bark
No less effective for eye burns by welding infusion of oak bark. Three tablespoons of oak bark must be insisted in a glass of boiling water. After 3 hours, with this tincture, it is necessary to soak cotton pads and apply them to the eyelids for 20-25 minutes.
Cabbage
Fresh cabbage leaves will help relieve pain after welding. They must be passed through a meat grinder. The resulting slurry must be applied directly to the eyes. The inflammation subsides, the pain subsides.
Aloe
It copes well with inflammation of the eyes and aloe. A few fresh leaves must be finely chopped and pour boiled water at room temperature. After aloe is infused for two hours, in a solution you need to moisten cotton swabs and put them on your eyes. In addition, you can combine the juice of aloe leaves with a small amount of honey. This composition should be instilled into the eyes in the morning and evening. Just one drop under the lower eyelid of each eye.
Linden, calendula and chamomile
Herbal tincture made from chamomile, calendula and linden in a ratio of 1: 1: 1, suitable for washing the eyes after a burn by welding. Dry collection must be filled with 0.5 l of boiling water and insisted until the infusion has cooled to room temperature.
When should I see a doctor?
If this is not the first time you have encountered a burn of the eyes during the welding process, if a foreign body enters, then you probably know how and how to treat the burn. Looked at the welding and sore eyes? What to do if home treatment fails? Of course, consult a doctor! In order not to aggravate the problem and prevent blindness, you should pay attention to the following symptoms:
- Painkillers do not help.
- The pain does not subside for three or more days.
- Visual acuity is reduced.
In all of the above cases, you must urgently visit an ophthalmologist!
What should not be done?
We suggest talking about what you can not do with pain in the eyes after welding. Firstly, you should abandon the use of eye drops for fatigue or allergies. Do not use any drugs without consulting a specialist. It is strictly forbidden to rub and scratch your eyes - this can lead to inflammatory processes and damage to the conjunctival film. Doctors do not recommend flushing damaged organs of vision with tap water, because it contains a lot of chlorine, which irritates the mucous membrane. During the first day should not be instilled into the eyes of any means other than medications.
Useful Tips
The child looked at the welding, eyes hurt? What to do - a specialist will tell. Before contacting a doctor, you can only rinse your eyes with water. Further manipulations are possible only under the supervision of a doctor! It is important to create darkness in the room where the patient is located. It is best to close the windows with curtains, turn off the computer and TV, turn off the lights. You can use sunglasses.
Night-time welders should regularly rest their eyes. In addition, at any time of the day it is necessary to use safety glasses or a mask. Professionals working in this area should undergo an examination by an ophthalmologist.