Show EFFECT OF ultraviolet ULTRA VIOLET RAYS ON THE EYE by DR DIZ C R KINDALL recently thirty men were viewing the demonstration of a new portable electric are arc welding outfit A few hours later seventeen of the thirty men reported to the doctor for treatment they were suffering from traumatic conjunctivitis in two cases the pain was very severe and the symptoms were similar to those of morphine had to be administered to afford relief from pain only two men of the thirty were not affected in some way from this exposure these two men wore thick orange colored glasses several of the men wore orange colored glasses with thin lenses but the latter were not heavy enough to afford protection against an exposure as long as took place the distance of the eye from the arc also influences the possibility of injury conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva the conjunctiva is the mucious membrane covering the inside of the eyelids and part of the eyeball traumatic conjunctivitis is caused by foreign bodies in the eye exposure of the eyes to high winds dust smoke intense light from electric are arc lamps and from electric welding apparatus in the instance mentioned above the inflammation fl flam mation was due to the ultraviolet ultra violet rays the ultraviolet ultra violet rays lie beyond the violet rays in the spectrum and are invisible to the eye in some cases the effect is so severe that in addition to conjunctivitis an inflammation of the skin similar to sunburn is produced the symptoms sym of conjunctivitis caused by intense light or by the ultraviolet ultra violet rays are marked photophobia abnormal intolerance to fo light excessive secretion of tears intense smarting of the lid contraction of the pupil sometimes swelling of the lid and small ulcers developing on the eyeball or cornea unless properly treated by a physician immediately chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva cornea iris or retina and possibly blindness may result under proper treatment most cases get well in a few days all treatments should be under the direction of a physician that usually advised is to place ice packs on the patients eyes three or four times daily the pack should be left on from 15 minutes to an hour vie eyes should be irrigated with normal salt solution a teaspoonful to a quart of a sterile water or a saturated solution of boric acid several times daily if there is a discharge of pus a few drops of a 25 per cent solution of argyrol or a 5 per cent solution of should be placed in the eyes three to six times daily the patient should be confined to a darkened room until his condition improves in order to avoid complications these treatments will reduce the swelling give surgeon bureau of mines the patient comfort and prevent the development of charnic conjunctivitis in severe cases it may be necessary to administer morphine to relieve the pain at every plant where electric are arc weld ing outfits are used there should be an adequate supply of glasses the lenses of which are made up of alternate layers of red and blue glass or orange glasses of sufficient thickness to protect the eyes from the effects of ultraviolet ultra violet rays there should also be on hand at the plant dispensary or hospital a supply of boric acid sterilized water ordinary table salt argyrol and for immediate use As previously mentioned all cases of traumatic tru matic conjunctivitis caused by exposure to bright light or ultraviolet ultra violet rays should be treated under the direction of a physician |