welding and glucoma

[mechanic]

Has anyone been told you have glucoma and stopped your welding? I am on drops and have to be checked about every 6 months. I love welding and don't want to give that up. What have you done?

 

[TractorNH]

Read other's posts about the topic here:

glaucoma -

Miller Welding Discussion Forums

 

[AchingBack]

Has anyone been told you have glucoma and stopped your welding? I am on drops and have to be checked about every 6 months. I love welding and don't want to give that up. What have you done?

If you are on drops, it sound like you probably have open angle glaucoma. Did your opthamologist tell you to stop welding?

If he did, I'm curious if you might have close angle glaucoma. If so, I can understand how welding might cause sudden rise in pressure resulting in severe damage to the eye, even blindness. Find out what type of glaucoma you have, and do a lot of research on the disease.

 

[patrick_g]

Glaucoma and cataracts are not an issue WRT welding beyond standard safety practices. On the other hand a pacemaker/defibrillator is a welding issue. With an implanted cardiac device it is best not to weld but if you must my device maker says:

Do not exceed 160 amps, stay away from the welding machine when it is supporting a weld, bring the leads to the weld site from in front of you N O T with the leads passing by you to the weld site, twist the leads to make a twisted pair cable so magnetic field tends to self cancel, place the ground clamp as close as practical to the weld site, and hold the electrode or gun as far as possible from your implanted device. Immediately stop[ welding if you feel dizzy or feel anything unusual.