Welding makes you blind?

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Is going blind a myth or a fact of life for a welder.  Any personal stories about vision loss.
Reply:I only do a little welding and I'm only half blind.A butterfly without wings, is just an ugly bug
Reply:and it gives you hairy palms, too
Reply:I think age robs the eyesight more than anything.  Welding is all about eyesight.  It's a tiny little world that you live in.  Maybe one square inch.  It's the pits when you start losing the ability to see good.ANYHOW, THAT'S MY EXCUSE FOR LOUSY WELDS"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:You mean without wearing a mask, or with?"To tell which polarity to use go to the bathroom and pour some water down the drain. If it runs clockwise use straight polarity. If it runs counter-clockwise use reverse polarity. Or if it just gurgles use alternating current." -RandomDave
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersamm  It's the pits when you start losing the ability to see good.
Reply:If you are one of those who try to tack things together with your eyes shut, wearing no hood, you will lose something for sure. Eyelids are not rated to shade 10.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Originally Posted by SkippiiYou mean without wearing a mask, or with?
Reply:Originally Posted by jlgoodingWith a mask.  The blind thing has been brought up by people when I tell them I am thinking about welding as a career.  Must be an old wise tale.
Reply:I think it is an old wive's tale myself.  My  mother believed it and that is what she told me.  She was worried because I already wear thick pop-bottle glasses.  Anyway, I was convinced for years but now am not.Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:Your thinking of something else starting with W.......In fact I just got the eye's tested last year (again)  and the eye man said that generally welders have a lot less UV damage than joe blow public I'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:I think staring at the computer screen and TV are worse than looking through a filter lens.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33I think staring at the computer screen and TV are worse than looking through a filter lens.
Reply:Parents used to get on me about sitting too close to the TV screen when I was a kid, and now I'm sitting in front of a CRT less than 3 feet away"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:type louder i have gone deaf from welding
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammParents used to get on me about sitting too close to the TV screen when I was a kid, and now I'm sitting in front of a CRT less than 3 feet away
Reply:I don't worry cuz I'm already blind and I never have any return customers..
Reply:Gee!! I wonder if you weld in the nude if it makes your sterile??!!Or was it makes you look like Micheal JacksonCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by specterGee!! I wonder if you weld in the nude if it makes your sterile??!!
Reply:Don't know about welding, but my Mom told me something else would.
Reply:20 years still do not need glasses
Reply:Originally Posted by miller lite man20 years still do not need glasses
Reply:yes, welding makes you totally blind.  Seeing eyedogs have been found to help improve the quality of welds however. Scientists are currently working around the clock to breed seeing eyedogs that are flame resistant and are trained CWI's up to d1.1.2011 Dodge 3500 diesel duallyLincoln SA-200Lincoln SAE-300LN-25'sLincoln Idealarc R3RMiller Trailblazer 302
Reply:Watches Gordie's pants go up in flames Seeing eye dogs that weldCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Its possible if you look in the end of your mig gun set on 10 and pull the trigger. I am 71 as of March 5, started welding at ten years of age ,I just wear regular bifocal glasses and the Dr. said it is just the normal amt of sight loss for my age.I made wrought iron railings my shop in Avon Mass,  hold the picket with your left hand tack it with the right, this is before the automatic helmets were available ,neck gets tired flipping the helmet down every weld. Wearing glasses is the best thing that ever happened to me anyway, kept me out of the eye dr. office.removing chunks of metal out of my eyeballs.  Had the Miller 30A shooting out 4043   035 for about 6 Hrs today, silver soldered some ends on brass outriggers, finished of the day with the Dynasty, man that machine sounds great. After all that fun ,now I am on the computer boring you guys. Eyes must be O.K.  JimOK, everybody's been having a little fun here.   The CORRECT answer,,,,   is no, welding does not make you blind.   The improper use of, or the lack of use of, the correct personal protective equipment, DOES, on the other hand,,,,   have the potential of causing you to loose your sight, or at least damaging your sight.
Reply:Originally Posted by mark8310OK, everybody's been having a little fun here.   The CORRECT answer,,,,   is no, welding does not make you blind.   The improper use of, or the lack of use of, the correct personal protective equipment, DOES, on the other hand,,,,   have the potential of causing you to loose your sight, or at least damaging your sight.
Reply:Yep, it's true, absolutely 100% true welding makes you go blind.  The longer I welded the more I needed glasses.  Of course I have it on good authority from the woman wearing the white labcoat in the eyeglass department of Walmart that squinting at fat wimmen will have the same results.  Thing is you really can't make a damn dime squinting at fat wimmen.Another thing that is absolutely true, arthritus of the hip is caused by picking up wet change off the bar and carrying it around in your pants pocket.  That's why you should always carry wet change in a baggie.
Reply:Originally Posted by Old FartYep, it's true, absolutely 100% true welding makes you go blind.  The longer I welded the more I needed glasses.  Of course I have it on good authority from the woman wearing the white labcoat in the eyeglass department of Walmart that squinting at fat wimmen will have the same results.  Thing is you really can't make a damn dime squinting at fat wimmen.Another thing that is absolutely true, arthritus of the hip is caused by picking up wet change off the bar and carrying it around in your pants pocket.  That's why you should always carry wet change in a baggie.
Reply:If you drive a car every day will it cause you to go blind?I drive,use a computer, weld, make drawings, watch video's and everthing else. if I go blind i will not know what caused it.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:what does a fat woman and a pogo stick have  in common?
Reply:Samething as a moped, might be fun but wouldn't want your buddies see ya enjoying either one.Tim Beeker.
Reply:I had cateracts (clouded eye lenses) removed 4 years ago and the doc said it MIGHT have been caused by work I did years ago as a setup person in a weld shop (pinch eyes real tight and listen for the bacon to quit sizzling.)The good news is the eye operation corrected my otherwise poor eyesite from 20/200 to 20/40 and was absolutely painless-I mean I have had haircuts that hurt more.I have a cheap ($2) pair of reading glasses to wear inside the helmet, and my poor welding is caused by my age tremmors more then my eyesite.
Reply:Welding doesn't make you blind and yet every friday/Saturday night?   All the welders I know can't see....I'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:No, use proper hoods,lenses,etc-you'll be O K .  If you must worry, then spend the big bucks for american optical GOLD covered lenses, you'll see a whole new world opened up. When I used them, i could use 1 shade lower number, & really see  great .[SIZE="5"Yardbird"
Reply:Originally Posted by wirehuntWelding doesn't make you blind and yet every friday/Saturday night?   All the welders I know can't see....
Reply:Originally Posted by wirehuntWelding doesn't make you blind and yet every friday/Saturday night?   All the welders I know can't see....
Reply:I just got hairier from welding. Flash burn kills though
Reply:My buddy Bill went blind in one eye because of welding.  But that was really more do to the tank he was welding blewing up, smashing the mig gun threw his helmit, shattering the shatter proof plastic lense and jab a piece of that lense into his eye.Lincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:I had always heard before that it would make contacts stick to your eyes but thats BS too.  I've been welding in contacts for over 10years and burned the hell out of my eyes more times than I want to remember and never had a problem with contacts sticking.  Actually I think they help a lot as eye protection also.  If I don't have them in it seems like I can feel every little speck hit my eye even with safety glasses.  When I have them in....nothing.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools