Arc eye — also called welder's flash, photokeratitis, or flash burn — is a painful corneal injury caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. It is essentially a sunburn of the cornea.
It is common among welders, angle grinder users, and workers in industries concentrated around Silverwater, Granville, Auburn, and Clyde — and it is treatable, but you should not wait it out.
Suffering arc eye near Auburn or Silverwater?
Call Prime Optometrists Auburn immediately on (02) 9761 0005. We treat arc eye the same day and can prescribe pain relief directly.
What Causes Arc Eye?
Arc eye occurs after unprotected exposure to UV light from:
- Welding arcs — even a brief glance without proper eye protection
- Angle grinders and plasma cutters
- UV lamps and germicidal lights
- Sunlamps and solariums
- High-altitude sunlight reflected off snow (snow blindness)
Importantly, arc eye does not usually hurt immediately. The UV damages the corneal epithelium, but symptoms typically develop 6 to 12 hours after exposure — often waking people up in the early hours of the morning.
Symptoms of Arc Eye
- Intense, burning or gritty eye pain — often in both eyes
- Severe sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Excessive tearing
- Redness
- A feeling that something is in the eye
- Swollen eyelids
- Headache
How Is Arc Eye Treated?
Dr Tahiri assesses the cornea under the slit lamp using fluorescein dye to confirm and grade the extent of the UV damage. Treatment includes:
- Topical anaesthetic drops for pain relief during examination
- Lubricating and healing eye drops prescribed to take home
- Oral pain relief if appropriate
- Eye patching in some cases to rest the corneal epithelium
- Antibiotic drops to prevent secondary bacterial infection
Most arc eye cases resolve within 24 to 72 hours with treatment. Without treatment, healing takes longer and infection risk is higher.
What NOT to Do
- Do not rub the eye
- Do not use topical anaesthetic drops at home — they are not safe for unsupervised use and delay healing
- Do not wear contact lenses until fully healed
- Do not expose your eyes to UV light again until healed
How to Prevent Arc Eye
- Always wear appropriate welding goggles or a welding mask with the correct shade rating
- Use side shields — UV reflects off surrounding surfaces
- Bystanders should also wear eye protection or look away
Where to Go for Arc Eye Treatment Near Silverwater, Granville and Auburn
Prime Optometrists Auburn is the closest and most specialised option for workers in the Silverwater, Granville, Clyde, and Auburn industrial areas. We are located at 43 Auburn Road, Auburn NSW 2144, and are open Monday to Friday 9am–5:30pm and Saturday 9am–1pm.
Call (02) 9761 0005 as soon as symptoms appear — the sooner treatment starts, the faster recovery will be.