Welding While Wearing Contact Lenses

Has anyone ever told you that if you wear contact lenses while welding that they can become fused to your eyes?

Well, it turns out that this is nothing but a myth. The American Welding Society (AWS) has an article that states: "Since 1967, the American Welding Society has received reports concerning welders who have claimed to have had contact lenses fused to their eyes, either by the heat of the arc or by microwave radiation. Not one of these reports has been substantiated, and safety bulletins issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Safety Council (NSC) have all indicated such incidents could not possibly have occurred." For the full article, head to the Contact Lens Wear Safety & Health Fact Sheet on aws.org.

So, welding with contacts in is no more dangerous than any other operation performed in a repair facility. Keep in mind that you can still injure your eyes if dust or metal gets in them from grinding, sanding, or welding. That's why it is important to always make sure you are wearing the appropriate safety equipment when in a repair facility.

For additional information see the below articles.

Snopes
www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/cornea.asp

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