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A welding flash burn, or photokeratitis, is a painful eye injury caused by intense exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. It is essentially a severe sunburn of the cornea and conjunctiva, resulting in damage to the eye's outer layers.
read more about welding flash burn ...The primary cause is exposure to intense, short-wavelength UV light, most commonly from arc welding, sunlamps, or reflection off snow. The light energy is absorbed by the corneal epithelial cells, causing them to die and slough off, exposing the sensitive underlying nerve endings. This widespread cell death is what causes the characteristic, severe pain.
Symptoms are severe and typically begin several hours after the exposure. Patients report excruciating pain, a severe gritty sensation, tearing, light sensitivity (photophobia), and redness. The pain is often so debilitating that the patient cannot keep their eyes open.
A flash burn severely impacts vision temporarily. The pain causes severe muscle spasm (blepharospasm). Vision is blurred because the damaged epithelial layer can no longer provide a smooth, clear surface for light refraction. Although painful, the condition rarely causes permanent vision loss, as the epithelial cells usually heal within 24?48 hours.
Diagnosis is clinical and based on the patient's history of UV exposure. The doctor uses a slit lamp and applies fluorescent dye to the eye. The damaged areas of the cornea will stain brightly under the blue light, revealing the severity of the "sunburn."
The necessary treatment focuses on pain relief and supporting healing. Cold compresses, pain medication, and sometimes a temporary bandage contact lens are used to protect the cornea and allow new cells to grow back. Antibiotic drops are used to prevent secondary infection.
No, the pain is delayed, often starting 4 to 12 hours after the UV exposure.
While the tissue heals quickly, the pain is so severe that medical attention is usually required for diagnosis and pain management.
No, the UV light is absorbed by the cornea and does not typically reach the retina.
If you experience a "sand in the eyes" sensation after welding or sun exposure, see an eye doctor. Welding Flash (Photokeratitis) causes "Corneal Punctate Epithelial Erosions." A doctor will use fluorescein dye to check for the extent of the burn and may prescribe antibiotic ointment to prevent secondary infection while the surface heals.
AAO. Photokeratitis (aao.org). 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Sunburn and Eye Health (mayoclinic.org). 2024.
StatPearls. Ultraviolet Keratitis (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). 2024.
Cleveland Clinic. Photokeratitis Guide (clevelandclinic.org). 2024.