Just had to get a grinder spark removed from my eye

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Bryan

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I got a grinder/welding spark in my eye last night and thought it would eventually work its own way out. However after reading up on the internet I decided to go to the Hospital to get it out.

If this ever happens to you ensure you go to A&E ASAP because the tiny spec of metal will rust in your eye and cause further problems. Mine hadn't rusted so it was just a case of getting it out (which isn't a very nice experience so I'll leave out that detail).

I am certainly not Mr H&S but from now on I'll be wearing goggles and a safety visor because I never want to have go through that again!

You have been warned!!
 

gribby1

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had it myself a few years back not a nice experience whatsoever
 

Bryan

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It happens quite a lot according to the woman in the hospital and they even had a room dedicated to it in A&E.
 

Tinners

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Nasty! I got asked the other day before an MRI if this had ever happened..dont even want to know what would happen in that situation!
 

Doovde

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Had this a few times myself.

My uncle got a spark stuck in his eye thought nothing off it and went to bed, long story short, he's now got a glass eye as the metal tore his eye to pieces when sleeping.
 

Eddies

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Wouldn't be going to craigavon, cousin of mine went in year's ago with the same thing, they scratched his retina (sp) trying to get it out several time's and then sent him onto the royal till fix him up.
 

hutchy_belfast

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It happens at least 4 people a week in the hospital I work, if it's any consolation it's quite fun taking them out, one of the better tasks in A&E anyway.
If anyone ever mentions MRI scanning any part of you in the future be sure to tell them this happened to you. They'll X ray your head to make sure 100% there are no fragments left. MRI is a massively powerful magnet, so I'm sure I wont need to explain much further why you don't want to go through one with a ferrous fragment in your eye!!!
 

longchamps

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Thats the worst when you think it will maybe go away and you leave it over night then the next morning the pain is a lot worse every movement of your eye scratchs the metal about and it will have started to rust yep ive been in quite a few times the drive over to hospital is quite tricky too.
 

Alan_B

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Hutchy do you work in A+E? Out of interest if you do, which hosp you in atm?
 

Bryan

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Wouldn't be going to craigavon, cousin of mine went in year's ago with the same thing, they scratched his retina (sp) trying to get it out several time's and then sent him onto the royal till fix him up.

That's where I went and didn't have a problem - was in and out in under an hour. I was well pleased.

I guess it depends on who does it though.

I have to put eye drops in now for days and that's something I can't do because my eyes are so sensitive. I can't even open them under water.
 

hutchy_belfast

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Hutchy do you work in A+E? Out of interest if you do, which hosp you in atm?
I'd be down in A&E one week in 12 when I'm on acute medical admissions, not down there full time (thankfully)
Up in Altnagelvin for a few more months then back down this direction somewhere undecided as yet!
Did you ever sort out your medical device thing for your project?
 

hutchy_belfast

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That's where I went and didn't have a problem - was in and out in under an hour. I was well pleased.

I guess it depends on who does it though.

I have to put eye drops in now for days and that's something I can't do because my eyes are so sensitive. I can't even open them under water.
If you really struggle, tilt your head back and drop them in to the inner corner of your eye (the one by your nose) even if your eye is closed gently, it'll spread out reasonably when you open and blink a few times.
 

gav525

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Thats mad, lucky you got it out in time though.

Scares me the thought of losing an eye!! Wear goggles all the time when cutting,grinding and even strimming the grass, even though she says i look like a tit :p Only takes a second for something to be thrown in there at a great rate of knots
 

sam_9n

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very lucky indeed (y)

we have to wear goggles for PPE as standard issue, im always really conscious of the sparks so always wear a visor were half of my colleagues don't, best be safe than sorry i suppose
 

scoobyman

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[ame=http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=43a_1305482017]LiveLeak.com - How to uses a grinder not[/ame]
 

Ace_vaux

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I've had four eye injuries during work and twice was wearing glasses.

Once was wood dust blew out from a hole and ended up scratching my cornea, twice dus off a site in it and once metal.

Not fun except the patch ;)
 

Nicky

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Did you get the big needle in the eye to freeze it to allow them to do the extraction?

I went through all that a couple years ago when I got wet 60n concrete in the eye. The lime in the concrete was burning away at a serious rate, and had I not got it all removed when I did (within an hour thanks to a great eye hospital in London, where I was working at the time), I probably would have lost the eye according to the professionals...

It was tinted safety glasses every day after that, for sure.

Definitely not a nice experience...
 

Bryan

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No - they have an eye drop formula that they just squirt in to numb the eye. Even that took about 6 goes though because my eye is so sensitive.

Sounds like I got off lightly compared to others! Still I wouldn't want to have to do it again!

I wear glasses all the time so I never bother with goggles/visor etc but from now on I'm gonna have my glasses, then goggles and then the visor.

Near took my thumb off with the grinder last week as well when it kicked back.

I think the campervan I was working on both times is cursed or something.
 

Bryan

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Pretty stupid grinding with no goggles...

As I said above I wear glasses so this gives you a sense of protection which is usually the case but I don't know how this one got past.

Although from now on it'll be goggles or not at all.

The woman in the hospital said she has even treated people who were wearing eye protection.
 

stevieturbo

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Pretty stupid grinding with no goggles...

I'd actually say pretty stupid grinding with goggles. Full face shield at a minimum.

Most goggles people use arent even suited to the job in hand anyway.

A full face shield is actually very cheap and more comfortable than goggles anyway.

Buy a few of them and just have them sitting about the workshop, then there really is no excuse not to use them. Full shield is also handy working underneath cars etc, so you dont get a face full of dirt

Some goggles may protect your eyes a bit, but there is more than your eyes that get get damaged from a grinder or debris that may fly off from it.
 

pedenjohn

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Yea, it's happened me several times, even with safety glasses! The whole needle to pick it out business is unpleasant.... Took 4 of them to hold me down one time!
 
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