Welding while wearing contact lens

[bindian]

Back in high school agriculture class, I learned to arc weld. Back then, we were told to not wear contact lens while welding. With today's auto darkening hoods, can you wear contacts with no effects on the contact lens and you eyes?
hugs, Brandi

 

[davesl708]

I wore soft contacts for 30 years. Never had issues welding. I would get your eye doctor's opinion with regarding the auto darkening. You are dealing with the speed of light on the auto darkening. The electrical circuits are operating a little slower than light. Some will get through.

 

[Big Barn]

I too wore soft contacts for over 40 years. The last 15 with auto dark hoods. No probs for me.
Had eye cataract surgery lately so no longer able to use poor vision as an excuse for ugly beads.
Terry

 

[BukitCase]

From page 3 of this article - https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2007/02/Preventing-Eye-Injuries-When-Welding.aspx?Page=3

"Some guidelines and safety warnings for welding suggest workers should not wear contact lenses, even though there does not appear to be any research that would support such a recommendation. In fact, the National Safety Council, the American Welding Society, and the FDA all acknowledge that wearing contact lenses while welding is safe and even can provide UV protection. The only caveat is that contact lenses should not be used as eye protection in place of safety glasses or goggles."

Also, from thefabricator.com - "Regarding contact lenses, OSHA, the American Welding Society (AWS), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Safety Council (NSC) all acknowledge that wearing contacts while welding is safe in many cases, unless fumes, excessive particles, or other regulations bar their use. Contact lenses, however, don't serve a safety function; welders should wear goggles or glasses with contact lenses to ensure proper eye protection."

I'm nearsighted and wasn't allowed to use contacts for the last 35 years before retirement, but that was because of occasional chemical fumes - chlorine, for example, will mix with fluids in the eye and you end up with hydrochloric acid between eye and contact.

Been welding off and on for the past 50 years, and had more problems with grinding getting stuff in my eyes than anything else.

Sounds like you'll be fine, but I second the use of safety goggles, especially when grinding/wire brushing, etc... Steve

 

[Big Barn]

Brandi
I like this for an eye wash station: aerosol saline. Also for flushing wounds. No security seals to deal with. Always ready to go.
Terry

 

[buickanddeere]

Back in high school agriculture class, I learned to arc weld. Back then, we were told to not wear contact lens while welding. With today's auto darkening hoods, can you wear contacts with no effects on the contact lens and you eyes?
hugs, Brandi

An old wive's tale. Anybody that tells you such needs a good swift kick on the backside .

 

[Shield Arc]

Had eye cataract surgery lately so no longer able to use poor vision as an excuse for ugly beads.

Why not! I had cataract surgery years ago. I still blame my eye sight for bad welds. And if someone really questions that, I tell them the sun was in my eyes!

 

[Big Barn]

Why not! I had cataract surgery years ago. I still blame my eye sight for bad welds. And if someone really questions that, I tell them the sun was in my eyes!

Prior to my eye surgery I blamed everything on them!

Eg: typical Big Barn household conversation--
Daughter "How could you forget to pack my lunch AGAIN?"
Me ".....cataracts."

Terry

 

[Shield Arc]

Prior to my eye surgery I blamed everything on them!

Eg: typical Big Barn household conversation--
Daughter "How could you forget to pack my lunch AGAIN?"
Me ".....cataracts."

Terry

Oh I'm gonna use that! Thanks! :cool2:

 

[bindian]

Thanks for the replies. I do, indeed, wear safety glasses when grinding and on anything that can throw stuff at your eyes. At work, we have to keep safety glasses handy at arm's length. I always blamed my bad beads on having to use right handed equipment.:laughing::thumbsup:
hugs, Brandi

 

[bigtiller]

I welded for wages for about 6 months, years ago. During my training, the first thing i was asked was if i had on contacts. I said no and asked why. This is what i was told and i have no idea if it actually happened or if it was just a story to spook the new guy;

A production welder had a job that required a long spot weld done very frequently. In order to weld more parts-per-hour, he covered the flash with his gloved hand without wearing his hood. Sometime during the day he took his contacts out and then told his co-worker he couldn't see. The contacts had been fused to his cornea and pieces of them came out with the contacts blinding him.

 

[CNC Dan]

I welded for wages for about 6 months, years ago. During my training, the first thing i was asked was if i had on contacts. I said no and asked why. This is what i was told and i have no idea if it actually happened or if it was just a story to spook the new guy;

A production welder had a job that required a long spot weld done very frequently. In order to weld more parts-per-hour, he covered the flash with his gloved hand without wearing his hood. Sometime during the day he took his contacts out and then told his co-worker he couldn't see. The contacts had been fused to his cornea and pieces of them came out with the contacts blinding him.

Heard the same BS in welding school. It's an "old wives tail".

 

[cqaigy2]

Thanks for the replies. I do, indeed, wear safety glasses when grinding and on anything that can throw stuff at your eyes. At work, we have to keep safety glasses handy at arm's length. I always blamed my bad beads on having to use right handed equipment.:laughing::thumbsup:
hugs, Brandi

K, im using this and the cataracts.

Sorry Honey, i forgot to pickup the, fill in the blank, because the car's cataracts are right handed.

 

[bindian]

K, im using this and the cataracts.

Sorry Honey, i forgot to pickup the, fill in the blank, because the car's cataracts are right handed.

Make that.............the car's hi beams...............
hugs, Brandi

 

[dntfxr]

I've always welded with contacts in, never a problem.

 

[Big Barn]

"Blind in one eye and can't see out of the other." .......favorite saying of full time mechanic we used to have on the farm.

Terry

 

[flusher]

Back in high school agriculture class, I learned to arc weld. Back then, we were told to not wear contact lens while welding. With today's auto darkening hoods, can you wear contacts with no effects on the contact lens and you eyes?
hugs, Brandi

Yep. But wear a pair of wraparound sunglasses (yellow tint, polarized, UV400 rating or better) to protect your eyes from reflected UV radiation that can get inside your hood.

I had cataract surgery 4 years ago in which flexible plastic prescription lenses were inserted into the lens cavities of my eyes. You have to protect those lenses from UV exposure whenever you are in sunlight and while welding and cutting with your plasma torch.

None of this crap you see on TV in those auto modification shows where those rednecks tack weld with wire feed welders and no eye protection except their closed eyelids.

Good luck

 

[bindian]

Yep. But wear a pair of wraparound sunglasses (yellow tint, polarized, UV400 rating or better) to protect your eyes from reflected UV radiation that can get inside your hood.

I had cataract surgery 4 years ago in which flexible plastic prescription lenses were inserted into the lens cavities of my eyes. You have to protect those lenses from UV exposure whenever you are in sunlight and while welding and cutting with your plasma torch.

None of this crap you see on TV in those auto modification shows where those rednecks tack weld with wire feed welders and no eye protection except their closed eyelids.

Good luck

Flusher, I will look into wraparound sunglasses, yellow tint, polarized, UV400 rating or better.
hugs, Brandi