Need some advice; did I cause damage to my eyes?

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Tig welding steel. Doing a bunch of small, pattern welds today. One time I looked at the electrode and pressed the foot pedal (looking right at the arc point blank, half second). I turned fast, not fast enough. Just wondering if I may have cause short/long term injury to my eyes….this is a first for me. Any input would be great, thanks. Jeff
Reply:I don't think so but I am not a doctor. I have gotten flashed more than once on ocasion and other than spots for a while I was fine. This was tig welding also.
Reply:You'll be fine, it may wake you up in the middle of the night tho and make you think you Fd yourself for life. But you should be fine. What I do, and may get flamed for this is, as soon as I flash myself, when I get my bearings straight I flip my mask and just start welding again. I'm not a Dr. so I don't know what it does as far as making your eyes dialate back to normal, but it works for me 99% of the time. I've been to the eye Dr multiple times in the past for this, when it was serious but but for the most part my method puts me right back on track. I've been welding for a living for 22yrs, and my eyes are still 20/20 so i'm still doing something right! People ask me all the time, is being a welder bad for your eyes, and I tell them no, working with other welders will ruin your eyes! Thats when you'll get flashed the most. I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:You'll b fine. I'm like Mike, once I get my bearings' I get back 2 welding. Old age & disease (high b.p., diabetes) will more likely affect your eye sight. 45 y.o. seems 2 b the threshold.
Reply:just don't do it for fun and you'll be ok
Reply:Been there done that..No biggie.If there are florecent lights in the shop stare at one for about 30 sec after the flash..Sight restored and get back to work....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterBeen there done that..No biggie.If there are florecent lights in the shop stare at one for about 30 sec after the flash..Sight restored and get back to work....zap!
Reply:I hate that and no matter how many years practice of welding you have it will just happen from time to time.There have been more than a couple times that I forget to flip my lid down and hit the peddle... Almost every time I forgot to flip the lid down was on a critical setup where I was using all my attention on the parts to be stuck together.