Team Chevelle banner

Home remedies-- Welder?s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

185K views 42 replies 37 participants last post by  lbaker06 
#1 ·
Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

My son called early this morning with arc flash burn to his eyes. As soon as the Dctor's office is open he will be there.

It's been years since I received reflective flash burn to the eyes but I haven't forgot the intense pain. He was wanting to know of any home remedies to relieve the pain. I've heard sliced potatoes, milk and wet tea bags.

Anyone have home remedies they would care to share?

Man, I feel for him. :(
 
#2 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

I used to know a guy who swore by putting slices of cucumber on his eyes. SOrt of like what you see the chickies doing in the salons. I knew another who used slices of potato. I never got it bad enough to have to use either.

Maybe the pain will help him remember to use his hood next time instead of doing it the "I seen this old guy do it like this" method.

Good luck.

K
 
#6 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

ouch I had it once but had a good insurance plan back then my bosses wife was leagally blind so he sent me to her doc as it happened at work. the eye drops I got were way better then what the ER had given me. try an eye specialist.
 
#7 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

Don't know any cure, never burned my eyes, though, either.
 
#8 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

My wife works for an Eye doctor, I just told her about your question. This is what she said.

There is NOTHING you can do at home!! You need to get medical attention ASAP - if you do not you will not be able to sleep (it is that bad). The longer you wait the worse it will be and you could have permanent damage.
 
#10 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

Had that happened to me twice while in the welding field. The first night it hurts like heck but over time it will go away. Eye drops are the best thing to do along with running water in your eye. The pain is like having sand in your eyes don't rub your eyes. If you do go out wear sun glasses.
 
#11 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

Well, I can't add much in the way of relief, but being a seasoned pro at getting welder's flash, I CAN say this.......

After the pain goes away in the next couple days, just wait until his face starts to peel. He'll look like a leper for a week. Moisturizer on his face is important too. Just FYI. Tell him good luck. Next time weld with a mask. ....but he already knows that now.
 
#12 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

The flash from Mig welders is worse than from arc welders. Very little time exposed to it will give your skin a real sun burn. I was told that the smoke from arc welders blocks some of the rays. There could be other reasons as well.
 
#13 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

been there a few times, suprised i can still see(dont be on the road at night when im driving,lol)
i try to pat a damp cloth on the eyes, use over the counter drops, 6 beers-take tylonal or advil-i had some perscription eye drops that relived pain, but they said cont. use would damage the eyes
its gonna hurt though
 
#27 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

been there a few times, suprised i can still see(dont be on the road at night when im driving,lol)
i try to pat a damp cloth on the eyes, use over the counter drops, 6 beers-take tylonal or advil-i had some perscription eye drops that relived pain, but they said cont. use would damage the eyes
its gonna hurt though
I been here many times...all you can do is go to eye doctor and get the eye pain drops that numb the eyes...I will say that about 8-12 beers and 2 Tylenol PM helps you sleep for atleast 5 hours..Non saline eye solution helps keep them moist and aloe vera helps with burnt eye lids..
I passed on the information. Some reason he thought the beers and tylenol were the best home remedy. After spending the day with a cool wet wash cloth on the eyes he sounds like he is doing better.
I know you guys are trying to inject some humor into the discussion, but in all seriousness, alcohol mixed with Tylenol can be a very dangerous game.

The active ingredient in Tylenol is Acetaminophen, when mixed with drinking alcohol has been known to shut down major organs including the liver & kidneys. :eek: Serious stuff.

So all I'm trying to say is if you plan to mix beer & pain meds, choose Advil instead.
 
#14 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

I been here many times...all you can do is go to eye doctor and get the eye pain drops that numb the eyes...I will say that about 8-12 beers and 2 Tylenol PM helps you sleep for atleast 5 hours..Non saline eye solution helps keep them moist and aloe vera helps with burnt eye lids..
 
#15 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

Well, ill tell my story. I watched a guy in the afternoon do some welding on a dump trailer of mine. At around 4 or 5 hours later it felt like i had glass chips in my eyes. I really didn't give it a thought that was what happen cuz it was hours later. I went to the ER and they put in what i think they said was liquid novacaine.<sp?> I really got scared when a min or two later it still hurt like hell. After a few more mins it went away, i was so relived. They gave me some drops and put patches over both eyes, boy was it hard to drive home with them on...lol. I was down for a few days. When i say hurt like hell i mean it. It was just like glass was in my eyes. I never have had it happen again, i run when they weld at work ! ! Its a terrible thing. So get him to the hospital asap. Hope all goes well.
 
#16 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

Well, ill tell my story. I watched a guy in the afternoon do some welding on a dump trailer of mine. At around 4 or 5 hours later it felt like i had glass chips in my eyes. I really didn't give it a thought that was what happen cuz it was hours later. I went to the ER and they put in what i think they said was liquid novacaine.<sp?> I really got scared when a min or two later it still hurt like hell. After a few more mins it went away, i was so relived. They gave me some drops and put patches over both eyes, boy was it hard to drive home with them on...lol. I was down for a few days. When i say hurt like hell i mean it. It was just like glass was in my eyes. I never have had it happen again, i run when they weld at work ! ! Its a terrible thing. So get him to the hospital asap. Hope all goes well.

Yep..novacaine...If you don't leave them patches on your eye get real scratchy watching tv at night..:thumbsup:
 
#20 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

I passed on the information. Some reason he thought the beers and tylenol were the best home remedy. After spending the day with a cool wet wash cloth on the eyes he sounds like he is doing better.

The worst eye burn I ever received was when I was pipeline welders helper. We worked 24 hours straight getting the 16" line back in service. I wore the safety green welding eye glasses with side shields. The welder warned when ever he was about to strike an arc and I would look away. Evidently it was a reflective burn from objects around us. Gosh, that hurt.

Keith I have notice that MIG welder will produce a burn quicker than a stick welder.
 
#21 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

Been there done that. Kinda like taking a hot shower after getting a sun burn draws most of the heat and pain out of the sun burn. Looking at a bright light will help. YES it hurts. It does help ease the pain some though. I know it sounds crazy. But it works.
 
#22 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

The one and only time this happened to me, I got flash burned thru my eyelids. Was doing a lot of spot welds, put the gun where I needed it, closed the eyes, pull the trigger then let off. I figured as long as I kept my eyes closed it would be fine, I learned to never do that again. lol My eye doc said it happens all the time to people thinking as long as their eyes are closed they're fine, I unfortunately know for a fact he's right.
 
#23 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

Was watching a friend of mine weld.......watched thru my hand......how stupid was that...he welds for a living...i woke up with eyes coming out of my skull... when i called him he said try this.....says the few times he burnt his eyes, he mixed up Milk of Magnesia into a paste......put on eyelids, laid warm wet rag over eyelids,seemed to help draw out the fire somewhat.. it definately helped....also told me welding galvanized anything gives off a poisonous fume that wil make you very sick...said when he has to weld anything galvanized, he drinks a quart of milk right before and doesn't get sick...sorta sounds like odd remedies, but if they work.......
 
#24 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

I worked in Industrial Fab for years. Welders, Plasma cutters and grinders everywhere all day long. I learned real quick to look away and never weld or tack without a hood. Same goes for any exposed skin, you will get a sunburn real quick. If you burn the eyes. Even air will hurt, thats why you'll get some relief if you wear some glasses or googles. Best remedy is not to let it happen. But when it did I used very warm milk in a dropper, it helped. The last time it happened I remember driving 30 miles home in the dark wearing sunglasses, the light was killin me. Next morning I took the day off went to the Doctor and got some Atropine drops, that works. If your doc gives you the drops you'll need a driver. And welding fumes, its all bad, only difference is the smoke from burning Galvanized steel will kill you faster then plumes of burning Stainless Steel welding rod.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

I flashed my eyes once when I first started welding and learned something interesting from it. I was wearing a white shirt and welded for a couple hours using my helmet. That night, it felt like someone was rubbing my eyes with sandpaper. I did the cold washcloth/Motrin thing and all was better the next day. I talked to a loooong-time welder friend of mine who said that the UV/IR rays were reflecting off my shirt into my helmet. He said to use a dark shirt and some welding glasses under my helmet.
A couple days later, I put the same shirt on and did some checking while welding. HE WAS RIGHT :yes:. When I was welding, I could see alot of bright light reflecting up and around into my helmet.
From that day forward, I only wear a dark colored shirt while welding. However, even while wearing a dark shirt, there's still light that reflects under a helmet, so I wear a pair of UVEX welding glasses under my helmet to catch any reflected rays. Never had a scratchy eye since.
http://www.coopersafety.com/item/100094/Uvex-Astro-OTG-3001-with-Shade-3-0-Lenses.aspx
 
#28 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

I have always found milk to be very good. If you think that you might have arc eye, pour some milk into them. It won't do you any harm if you don't have arc eye and it will reduce the gritty sand-in-your-eyes feeling if you do have arc eye.
 
#29 ·
Re: Home remedies-- Welder’s Flash, arc flash,arc eye, flash burn

Worst flash burn I ever had was caused by a TIG welder. I was fitter on a stainless pipe job and had one of those "turn and burn" traveling welders. He would strike an arc before I was ready or just accidently(because of his ineptness). I came into work the next day with flashburn so bad I had to get somebody to drive me to the Dr.. My boss immediately fired that "welder"

But as others said, the drops are the only relief. Back in the old days we could keep a bottle on hand in our first aid kit. That all ended when the pharmacies had to add them to the controled drug deal.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top