Did safety glasses just save my bacon?

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I flashed myself pretty good last night...uh...twice. I've read about arc burn here and elsewhere so needless to say I was pretty bummed and a bit scared. I've been working with dangerous tools all my life so I'm usually very careful. But this was a total rookie move. I guess it was bound to happen.  Since I'm such a hack I spend as much time grinding as I do welding.  So I wear my safety glasses under my hood. They are 99.999% UV protection (according to the manufacturer website). Did my spec's just save me from a night of agony? Should I be more careful in the future and never weld while distracted?
Reply:You would need to Flash yerself a few more timesbut the safety glasses do help and you are more likely to get an Eye injury from debris that Arc eye so good on you for wearing them.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1You would need to Flash yerself a few more timesbut the safety glasses do help and you are more likely to get an Eye injury from debris that Arc eye so good on you for wearing them.
Reply:Wearing safety glasses is one of the safest things I do, don't do a thing without them. Well once maybe..... a few weeks ago clearing brush and I drove a stick in my eye. I took it as a reminder to be sure they're on my head not in the garage.As for getting a flash, I've flashed my self numerous times years ago  before I wore safety glasses and never got an arc burn from it. Only time I've gotten a bad arc burn is when two of us were working on a ferry dock side by side, I got a burn in the right eye, my partner one in his left. I don't think you can get one from a momentary look at the arc.I was told the most likely time to get one was when you're getting the UV rays at an angle. Not looking directly at the arc as the pupil doesn't react fast as it would straight on......Mike
Reply:coiple of weeks back my peanut grinder lost a small chip I it hit me in the cheek.  I usually have on a hood, but tis tme.  Just the grinder tellin me" wear a hood dumbass, gooda got ya"
Reply:Okay so it probably wasn't enough to burn me. That's good to know. It's not an experiment I intend to repeat!So would 100% UV safety glasses protect you? I imagine the brightness alone might still be harmful but would you be spared the actual arc burn?
Reply:Originally Posted by K20 DieselOkay so it probably wasn't enough to burn me. That's good to know. It's not an experiment I intend to repeat!So would 100% UV safety glasses protect you? I imagine the brightness alone might still be harmful but would you be spared the actual arc burn?
Reply:The Visible light (brightness) from the Arc isn't doing any damage to your eyes- it is the UV rays and as GTO-welder mentioned you can get Arc eye from being in the Vicinity of welders, and are more likely to get Arc from that type of exposure than directly.Your Brain won't let you look at the Arc long enough without a Hood due to the Brightness- now if you flash yerself over and over and over then you will cause Arc Eye.Another cause is from the UV rays bouncing off of the area around you and then back in behind your helmet. If you weld in a small geerage with White walls you may get it if you were welding all day long. But most geerages are filled wid sheite and ya can't see the alls anywayFor you and me, the weekend warrior/hobby types- the chance of getting Arc eye are pretty slim but the chance of Eye injury from debris is pretty high. Most work places require PPE but at home there is only you as the Safety PoPoEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge