Macular Degeneration in an Arc Welder

A male welder who had been working in an industrial machine plant for more than 20 years experienced acute intense pain in his left eye with continuous lacrimation while performing arc welding in 1997. Later in 1997, at the age of 39 yr, macular edema was found in his left eye. He was diagnosed with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Industrial Health 2007, Vol.45(2), pp.371-373
Main Authors: KIM, Eun A, KIM, Byung-Gyu, YI, Cheol-Ho, KIM, Il Gon, CHAE, Chang-Ho, KANG, Seong-Kyu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arc welding infrared light
Eye - physiopathology
Eye - radiation effects
Eye Protective Devices - statistics & numerical data
Facial Pain - etiology
Humans
Infrared Rays - adverse effects
Macular degeneration
Macular Degeneration - diagnosis
Macular Degeneration - etiology
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - etiology
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects
Welder
Welding - standards
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Summary:A male welder who had been working in an industrial machine plant for more than 20 years experienced acute intense pain in his left eye with continuous lacrimation while performing arc welding in 1997. Later in 1997, at the age of 39 yr, macular edema was found in his left eye. He was diagnosed with macular degeneration (MD) of the left eye in 2002, and with right eye MD in 2004. Radiation in the visible and near infrared (IR) spectra penetrates the eye and is absorbed by the retina, possibly causing thermal or photochemical damage. Such retinal damage may be permanent and, therefore, sight-threatening. The young age and history of an acute painful eye injury are not consistent with age related macular degeneration (AMD) but rather is likely maculopathy caused by welding arc exposure.
ISSN:0019-8366
1880-8026
DOI:10.2486/indhealth.45.371