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10 Effective Home Remedies To Treat Welder’s Flash

You must have noticed welders wearing protective eyewear while they work. There is a very important reason behind this – to protect their eyes from developing welder’s flash or welder’s rash. And it’s not just welders who can be affected by this condition. Anybody whose eyes are exposed to strong ultraviolet light, for example from directly looking at a solar eclipse, can also suffer from this damage to their eyes.
If you already know what welder’s flash is, you would definitely be aware of how painful it is. But just like most problems, this can be cured and prevented as well. If you are affected by welder’s flash or want to prevent its occurrence, there are a number of ingredients that can help you out.
Want to know the top home remedies that can help you get rid of the tormenting welder’s flash? Read on!

What Is Welder’s Flash?

Welder’s flash is a painful condition that is caused when the eyes are overexposed to harmful ultraviolet light. The clear tissue that covers the eyes is known as the cornea. This tissue can get damaged due to various reasons and cause this eye condition. Scientifically, it is called Ultraviolet Keratitis and has the following symptoms:
  • Mild to severe pain in the affected eye (or both the eyes)
  • Increased sensitivity to light
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Blurry vision
  • Watery eyes
  • Irritation in the eye
  • A feeling that you have got something in the eye (1, 2)
The closest comparison to the pain of Welder’s Flash is when your eyes get dry and stick to your contact lens, tearing off a tiny layer of corneal cells. The cells grow back quickly, but the pain is intense when it occurs.
The flash from the welding torches, known as the welder’s arc, is known to seriously damage the cornea of the eye. This gives welder’s flash its name.

What Causes Welder’s Flash?

Ultraviolet radiation from these sources can cause welder’s flash:
  • Welding torch
  • Direct sunlight
  • Solar eclipse
  • Reflection of the sun on water or the snow
  • Lightning
  • Sunlamps (found in tanning salons)
  • Other lamps like halogen lamps, photographer’s flood lamp, etc. (2, 3)
Welder’s flash needs accurate care and treatment since this ophthalmic condition is very painful. Other than medical aid, a few home remedies can also help to speed up recovery from this condition. Here are these remedies.

Home Remedies To Treat Welder’s Flash

1. Potatoes For Welder’s Flash

1. Potatoes For Welder’s Flash 
You Will Need
  • 1 potato
  • A washcloth
  • Water
What You Have To Do
  1. Peel and grate the potato.
  2. Wet the washcloth and wring out the excess water.
  3. Place the grated potato in between the washcloth in two soft lumps next to each other with a gap of 1-2cm between them.
  4. Wrap the washcloth around this and place in the refrigerator for a couple of minutes.
  5. Now, lie down and place this on both the eyes, with each grated potato lump on each eye.
  6. Stay in this position for 15 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this twice a day, with a gap of a few hours in between.
Why This Works
Potatoes are an amazing home remedy for welder’s flash. They offer a cooling effect and reduce inflammation around the affected eye (4, 5). This reduces the pain and relieves the itchiness and irritation.
Potatoes also contain an enzyme called catecholase that can help in reducing water retention under the eyes. The starch in potatoes has anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce inflammation and pain in the affected area.

2. Milk For Welder’s Flash

2. Milk For Welder’s Flash 
You Will Need
  • Breast milk
  • Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
  1. Dip a cotton ball into the breast milk and apply it directly on the affected eye.
  2. Leave it on for a couple of minutes before wiping it off with a clean, wet washcloth or soft tissue.
You can also add a drop of warm milk to the affected eye using a sterilized eye dropper.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this twice a day until you get relief.
Why This Works
Breast milk contains natural enzymes that can take care of the itching and dryness related to welder’s flash. It lubricates the eyes and relieves pain to a certain extent. Its usage was also shown to enhance the healing of the corneal epithelial layer in lab experiments (6, 7).
Note: Breast milk may be hard to come by, but it’s very effective if you can find it.

3. Tea Bags For Welder’s Flash

3. Tea Bags For Welder’s Flash 
You Will Need
A used tea bag
What You Have To Do
  1. Keep the used tea bag in the fridge so that it cools down and dries up a little.
  2. Place this on the affected eye for 10-15 minutes.
Green tea and chamomile tea bags work the best.
How Often You Should Do This
This should be repeated twice a day for best results.
Why This Works
Tea bags are yet another wonderful and instantaneous pain relief option for welder’s flash. They are amazing sources of antioxidants (tannins) that can reduce inflammation almost immediately. They are often used for treating eye problems like stye and conjunctivitis (8, 9). The coolness of the tea bag will also help in alleviating the pain caused due to this eye problem.

4. Ice Pack

5. Ice Pack 
You Will Need
Ice pack
What You Have To Do
Simply place it on the affected eye for a few minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat as often as required.
Why This Works
Ice packs are amazing home remedies for the reduction of inflammation and pain seen with flash burns in the eyes. Their low temperature cuts the pain sensation in and around the affected eye. They also reduce redness and inflammation (10, 11).

5. Cucumber

6. Cucumber 
You Will Need
2 thick cucumber slices
What You Have To Do
  1. Refrigerate the slices for a few minutes and place them on the eyes.
  2. Leave them on for 10-15 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this twice or thrice a day.
Why This Works
Cucumber is an amazing cooling agent that is extensively rich in water as well. Thus, it soothes the dry, itchy, and painful skin around the eye and also hydrates it. It also offers deep moisturization to the affected area (12).

6. Rose Water

7. Rose Water 
You Will Need
  • Rose water
  • Cotton balls
What You Have To Do
  1. Soak cotton balls in rose water and place them over your eyes.
  2. Keep them on for 10 minutes.
Use cold rose water for faster results.
How Often You Should Do This
This can be done twice a day.
Why This Works
Rose water offers the much-needed relief from pain caused due to welder’s flash. It works as a coolant and alleviates the sensation of pain and irritation to a great extent (13). The cooling sensation also reduces swelling and itching.

7. Almond Oil

8. Almond Oil 
You Will Need
  • 1-2 drops almond oil
What You Have To Do
  1. Using your ring finger, carefully apply the oil on the eyelids and under the eyes.
  2. Leave it on for as long as possible.
How Often You Should Do This
Reapply the oil twice a day.
Why This Works
Almonds are rich sources of vitamin E (14). This works as a lubricator for eyes. Almonds also reduce eye fatigue, inflammation, and the burning sensation (15).

8. Wet Cloth

You Will Need
  • A soft face towel or napkin
  • Cold water
What You Have To Do
  1. Dip the towel in the cold water and wring out the excess.
  2. Place this over the affected eye and keep it on for 10-12 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this twice a day.
Why This Works
Using a cool, wet cloth gives relief from the pain and swelling seen with welder’s flash. This home remedy works best until the cloth remains moist.

9. Banana

10. Banana 
You Will Need
  • 1/2 banana
What You Have To Do
  1. Peel the banana and mash the pulp so that no lumps remain.
  2. Apply this pulp on closed eyelids and leave it on for 3-5 minutes.
  3. Rinse it off slowly with plain water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once or twice a day.
Why This Works
Banana slices are rich sources of vitamin B2, which is an amazing vitamin that can heal eye fatigue and inflammation (16). It can also lubricate the eyelids and protect them from dryness and flaking. We know it sounds unconventional, but you can safely use a banana to treat welder’s flash.

10. Castor Oil

Castor Oil 
You Will Need
  • Castor oil
What You Have To Do
  1. Apply a drop of castor oil in each eye.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 1-2 times every day.
Why This Works
Castor oil facilitates lipid production in the eyes and also controls the evaporation of tears. It is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral and also contains powerful fatty acids and other antioxidants that can benefit your eyes.

The home remedies for welder’s flash treatment listed above offer great relief from pain and inflammation are to be used while you are making your way to your doctor’s office or emergency room. This acute eye condition may require proper medical guidance for complete recovery. So, it is best to consult a doctor if you unfortunately ever suffer from it.
Here are some more tips for you to deal with welder’s eye.

Tips And Warnings

  • Wash your hands before touching the eyes to administer any prescribed drops or ointments or use any home remedies.
  • A simple pain reliever like ibuprofen or paracetamol can be taken on the first day to deal with the pain. Do not take multiple painkillers. However, you can take a homeopathic eye pain remedy called Ruta 12x safely either alone or with OTC painkillers.
  • Stay indoors as much as possible, i.e., avoid the sun.
  • Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from dust and dirt. These can also help you as your eyes become sensitive to light after a flash burn.
  • Don’t read or watch television. Listen to music for some entertainment while you are resting.
  • Always wear protective eyewear when welding or even when you simply venture out into the sun. Use sunglasses that provide both UVA and UVB protection.
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