Any Welders about? Need info on 'Arc Eye'

zebidee1

Son came home from work today with streaming red eyes, seems it's called arc eye (don't know if that's spelt properly).

I asked the Boots pharmacy bloke what's best to do and he gave me an eyebath, but son is struggling to use it as he's so sore.

I wanted info on the net about it but can't find much.

I'm not looking for medical advice, we know what it is and what to do about it but I'd like to read up on it to find out more.

Anyone suffered with this?

CarolnMalky

Best advice is go to A&E, hubby used to be a welder and always went to his local A&E and was given drops and a check up. Another thing that can help soothe is a cold wet face cloth.

Hope it eases soon for him.

bestpud

My OH had arc eye a few years ago - it took about 3-4 days to settle down and he just kept bathing it.

Just asked him and he said it hurt like bl**dy hell!!!

Have you tried NHS direct? Don't think they'll give different advice but may be able to give you more info about it?

Hth

Bestpud

Eels100

OH welds and he says ... get this ... put cold used teabags onto his eyes, and trickle cool boiled water through it onto his eyeball. No idea if that'll be any help but he swears by it.

whitewing

I've used cold tea for my son's conjunctivitis and my friend used it for her kittens. It worked for my son anyway

reheat

I can sympathise with your son. I got this long time back accidentally looking at some welding. Feels like a mixture of sand and itching powder in your eyes as I recall.

wishiwasarichgirl

I'm not a welder, but an optician, and apart from eyewashes/cold compresses to ease symptoms, there's not a lot he should do. It will probably feel a bit better in the morning and be fine within a few days.

magentadreamer

I'm not a welder, but I am an Ophthalmic ( eye) Nurse. I worked in an eye A&E unit several years ago. Welders arc is where the cornea - front surface of the eye gets loads of pin !!!!! burns on it and it hurts like hell for a few days. When I worked in A&E we gave lubricants/antibiotic ointment to help ease the discomfort, if it was really painful we did sometimes pad the worse eye, I would get it check out at your local A&E just to make sure he's not got any forgeign bodies in there as well. It will go but it can be a few days before he feels right again.

Psykicpup

I'd take a trip to A&E to rule out any permanent damage - arc eye or the symptoms of, are from burning the cornea of the eye http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=30971
painkillers & a cold wet flannel will help (the good old magic flannel lol)

ailuro2

It will be better this morning but he will have had a sleepless night- my welding intructor told me it lasts overnight and you get no sleep but it goes by the morning so you end up going to work with no sleep.:eek:

Always shouting 'eyes down' before striking an arc was his way of preventing us from getting it.;)

zebidee1

Thanks to everyone for replying, you really are a helpful bunch around here.

Son had a bad night and was up bathing his eyes with the Boots eyewash stuff half the night.

The pain isn't as bad this morning but his eyes are still watering a lot so he's phoned in to say he's taking the day off today. He has to drive to get to work and he wouldn't be safe on the roads trying to see with streaming eyes and I don't think his gaffer would be happy with the wonky welds he would mostly likely end up doing. :rolleyes:

His eyes are definately on the mend though and he will be fine for work on Monday again. It's his 18th this weekend too so he's a bit fed up this has happened now. That'll teach him to wear the safety goggles at ALL times!

Thanks again for the info and advice. :beer: