New Optical Filter Plate for Use as Eye Protection by Welders

Abstract

People whose work tasks involve the use of welding torches are at special risk of suffering eye injuries due to the emission of visible, short-wavelength radiation. Current legislation requires that a company provide its employees with protection against the harmful radiation produced by welding equipment. Often, however, a worker will be reluctant to use protective goggles since these markedly cut visibility and can consequently lead to errors or even burns. This practice of avoiding the use of protection makes them susceptible to suffer irreversible severe retinal damage leading to partial or complete loss of vision. In this paper, we propose the use of a new photoprotective filter in the form of safety goggles that seeks to improve the compromised vision produced by conventional filters. We compare a series of visual function variables in 36 adults, aged 30 to 58 years, using the new optical filter and a conventional filter used for welding protection. Our findings suggest that the filter proposed provides optimal protection against the harmful effects of short-wavelength radiation while minimizing the reduced vision effects of conventional filters used for this purpose.