Overexposure to UV radiation impacts health. Welders are the largest occupational group exposed to artificial UV radiation.
Short-term effects of UV radiation
Sunburn of the skin. The burn intensifies as the day goes on and is not visible until a few hours later. The welders’ flash, also known as arc eye and snow blindness. This is a painful irritation of the cornea and conjunctiva (the membrane connecting the eyeball to the inner eyelid). It feels like having sand in your eye and is sensitive to the slightest touch. UV-B is the main cause of "eye sunburn".
The eyes are more sensitive to UV radiation than the skin because they lack the skin’s outer hard layers and protective pigments. Symptoms appear 6 to 24 hours after exposure and usually resolve within the subsequent 48 hours.
There is no permanent damage to the eyes unless exposure was severe.
Long-term effects
Damage to the retina may eventually lead to loss of vision. It can be caused by UV radiation for people who have had surgery to remove the lens of the eye, e.g. due to cataracts. These retinal injuries can be prevented with UV-absorbing glasses or by surgically inserting UV-absorbing lenses. In a normal eye, the retina is protected against UV damage by the vitreous body filtering out UV radiation. Recent research indicates that exposure to UV radiation can adversely affect the immune system.
