welder's eye

welder's eye

An acute CONJUNCTIVITIS occurring a few hours after unprotected exposure to the intense ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT output from an electric welding or cutting arc. The eyes are markedly inflamed and the outer layer of the CORNEAS strips off exposing the corneal nerves. There is acute pain, tearing and uncontrollable spasm of the muscles that close the eye. Regeneration of EPITHELIUM occurs in a few days. Antibiotic eye drops are used to prevent infection.