Can You Wear Contact Lenses While Welding?
April 21st, 2010 | See the Top Answers to this Question Below
I know that it is humanly possible to wear contact lenses while welding, I just want to know if it is recommended to wear glasses instead.
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Shades of an urban legend rise from the grave again…
There is no additional risk from UV flash or IR exposure through wearing contact lenses with the appropriate welding goggles/masks.
The sort of radiation exposure required to cause the contact lens to do anything drastic would mean the eye would be in serious trouble anyway, making the presence of a contact lens largely irrelevant.
A separate issue is whether contact lenses are a good idea in a dirty, dusty, environment. The older gas permeable designs could be very dust-sensitive, but daily disposable softs could offer some small degree of protection. Keeping monthly soft lenses clean could be more of a problem.
Optometrist, retired.
You can wear them but you should have a face shield. Even with glasses you should have a face shield.
For gas welding ( oxy-acetylene ) it’s OK, but any type of arc welding that could potentially expose you to a " flash " can be catastrophic if you are wearing contacts.
Definitely a good question, which I’m sure lots of welders wonder about. I would agree with Pedestal42′s reply seeing as he’s a retired optometrist. But be sure you have a good quality face shield so that you don’t have to worry about it.