Dust and eye problem

[Keith Harrell]

If this is the wrong place or OT I'm sorry.
I have been having a big problem with an eye getting inflamed for 3 months now. I have been to three eye doctors so I'm not asking for medical advice.
What I'm looking for is has anyone had problem with dust and you eyes getting inflamed. They are not inflected but get red and very sore.
I have been a lot of sanding using cherry. I used it for years without a problem but know that can change. I have thought about getting the 3m dust helmet as I use the Trendshield now. My doctors don't think it from the dust as I don't have other problems like skin, nose or lungs or affecting the other eye. I hate to spend $700(3m helmet) but I can't stop woodworking either.

[Doug Shepard]

I've had a lot of other eye problems resulting in a number of both knife and laser surgeries. Now it doesn't take a lot of woodworking to really get them red and irritated if whatever I'm doing is causing much dust. The cyclone DC install a few years ago really helped out, but I still have problems. What works fairly well for me is to use some of the artificial tears eye drops and use it liberally while I'm doing anything in the shop.

[Frank Martin]

I was also having red eyes and headaches, installed a cyclone and got a respirator (Adflo Clearvisor: http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/category/3m-clearvisor-adflo-system-papr-respirator.html ). While it was an expensive purchase, I regret not buying it earlier. Very satisfied with its performance.

[Neil Brooks]

Keith-

This one hits a little close to home.

I'm 46, and have been declared Social Security Disabled *because of* a boatload of serious eye problems, including a number of "ocular surface" disorders.

In fact, I wear a pair of CNC-lathe milled, $7,000 "prosthetic scleral lens devices" (think HUGE, deep, fluid-filled contact lenses that have to be put in and taken out with two different plungers) that .... help me.

But ... you're at risk, here.

DEFINITELY do EVERYTHING you can to get ALL the dust out of the equation.

Are you a glasses wearer?

Even if you ARE, you can probably get a pair of glasses, like Wiley-X (http://www.wileyx.com/index.aspx) or Panoptx (http://www.7eye.com/products/) that have impact resistant lenses AND foam gaskets to keep 99% of the crap out?

In terms of drops....

I was on a type of prescription eye drop for over 6yrs, to treat one of my many issues.

Guess what I learned: preservatives are like DRANO for your eyes.

All of them???

Can't say for sure.

My bet: yes.

The worst -- and there's FIFTY YEARS of documentation for it -- is Benzalkonium Chloride ("BAK")

Some of you will look on the back of your dropper bottle, and find that they ARE preserved with BAK.

That's automatically a bad thing. BAK begins to change your tear film layer (and eat your corneas) ... immediately.

Talk with your eye doctor about alternatives -- preservative free is BEST.

Preservatives kill bugs. How does a preservative know that your cornea -- living tissue -- isn't a bug?

So far, it doesn't.

I would ONLY put preserved drops into MY eyes for a VERY short time, and ONLY to treat a medical condition.

Even the glaucoma drop manufacturers are changing from the BAK.

So ... what can you do ??

WHILE you're sorting this out, hit your drugstore. MOST carry one or two kinds of PRESERVATIVE-FREE SALINE.

One kind is in plastic bottles.

One kind is in an aerosol can.

I use both.

RINSE your eyes with preservative-free saline ... FREQUENTLY -- before, during, and after woodworking.

That's a cheap way to help figure out if the issue IS environmental. If it is ... then a Trend might make sense ... or ... just the "goggles" and saline could be enough.

But ... please find yourself a corneal specialist and follow up. The answer you're getting does NOT make sense to me. I'm not a doctor, but ... I've been at this for over 30yrs, and have learned a thing or two, along the way.

Best of luck. Most sincerely.

[Keith Harrell]

Thanks Neal for the background on drops. I never thought of those issues. I currently take 3 different prescription drops now and will see another eye doctor today:eek:. I think the dust just creates or makes the problem I have worst as I have been building a Sam Maloof chair that requires a lot of wood shaping and sanding. My shop is a total mess with dust now. More then I have ever seen and I do as much as possible outside. I have a overhead dust collector and a festool sander with vacuum and use a trend old syle air respirator MOST of the time. I'm bad at this step and have learned I can't skip it anymore. My one eye is so red and sore I can't even touch it. I REALLY like building the chairs so I ready to buy the best PAPR head gear there is so I don't have to stop woodworking which is were I'm at. The other suggestions are great about washing my eyes with drops during the day. I feel I have played around long enough with not respecting dust that I'm finally paying the price or need to.
I'm going to look into the 3M Adflo Clearvisor. I have spend about $400 on drops already. Thanks Frank and Doug also as it sounds like you have a similar problem. Spending $650 for the 3m airshield sounds good but looking through the forum most like the 3M adflo better. The Trend is a good system but differently doesn't filter all the dust I have found and feel a hepa filter is a better way to go.

[Dave Gaul]

Not trying to be a smart a$$... but am I missing something?

I wear these and they work fine, even with a respirator...

http://www.amazon.com/Dewalt-DPG82-11C-Concealer-Anti-Fog-Safety/dp/B000RKQ1NI

[Neil Brooks]

Dave-

Another GREAT option.

And certainly something cheap to try.

I'd still be rinsing frequently, though, if environmental sensitivities were a concern.

It's amazing what gets past my goalies ;)

[Don Jarvie]

You basically have an allergy to wood dust when it contacts your eyes. Not every allergy sufferer has the nasal and cough aspect like you see in the TV commercials nor do you have to have any skin irritations also.

Not knowing what you use of other medications but Visine works great for eye allergies.

The best remedy is to stop the problem before it starts. Look into getting a pair of goggles similar to a diving mask that will seal around you eyes and keep the dust from getting into them in the 1st place.

After you are done sanding make sure you wash your hands and face good. A one piece suit may be helpful to use for sanding only. This may help in keeping the dust off your clothes, ex - touch your pants and rub your eye.

[Russell Sansom]

Me too. I used to be plagued with blepharitis several times a year --- inflamation of the eyelash follicles --- and still feel as if there's sand in my eyes any time I'm exposed to saw dust or chemical fumes. It appears that, like most people, my allergies have increased as I've aged.
I have switched to as little sanding as possible, opting for planing and scraping instead. When sanding is unavoidable, I wear the goggles, flush with saline, vacuum immediately ( HEPA vacuum ), and crank up the overhead shop filter. When I find a specific wood especially irritating, I stop using it.
A fact of life is that once the immune system starts overreacting to something it will only get worse, so reducing exposure is truly important.

[Neil Brooks]

but Visine works great for eye allergies.


Wouldn't use it if you paid me.

It's preserved with that BAK stuff I referenced.

Don't need to take MY word for it. Do the homework.

Here's the first step -- that Visine is preserved with BAK: link (http://www.empr.com/ocular-allergyinflammation/visine-a/drug/7006/)

Step 2: that BAK is toxic to your eyes: link (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a906554823)

If you don't understand any of the language in that 2nd link (no offense intended), then ask your eye doctor.

There are probably >100 studies that confirm the same thing.

Visine has a great model. Nobody ever gets BETTER by using their drops. In fact, their eyes get worse, so the user tends to use more, and/or switch to one of Visine's other formulations -- most of which use the same preservative.

Nah.

Preservative-free saline.

[Don Jarvie]

Neil I agree that long term use of eye drops with preservatives over a long period of time isn't prudent. Using Visine every once in a while is ok since it is indicated for temporary relief. No over the counter product should be used more than 1 to 2 weeks without a doctors order. If you need to use an OTC product daily to treat a condition please consult your doctor. You may be masking a very serious condition.

We can debate the long term use of most drugs and there side effects all day.

Sorry to hear about your eye problems and wish you the best.

[Neil Brooks]

Neil I agree that long term use of eye drops with preservatives over a long period of time isn't prudent. Using Visine every once in a while is ok since it is indicated for temporary relief. No over the counter product should be used more than 1 to 2 weeks without a doctors order. If you need to use an OTC product daily to treat a condition please consult your doctor. You may be masking a very serious condition.

We can debate the long term use of most drugs and there side effects all day.

Sorry to hear about your eye problems and wish you the best.

Reasonable response, Don, and I appreciate it ... and the well-wishes.

Clearly, I err WAYYyyyyyy to the conservative on this one ;)

If I were advising Keith (the OP) -- who says he's already on three prescription drops -- I'd advise him to err to the conservative, too.

If the "softer, safer" route (avoiding preservatives entirely) gets the job done, then MY $0.02 would be to take that route.

In general, though, I agree with you: make smart risk-reward decisions, and follow dosing and duration recommendations, closely :)

[glenn bradley]

A trip to the allergist wouldn't hurt either. I developed ear trouble and switched from plugs to muffs. What I didn't realize was that it was probably triggered from my snout. I now wear a respirator almost all the time. The allergist isolated the problem but a quality E.E.N & T. guy probably would have too but, wouldn't test for allergies. The changes in methods have returned the enjoyment to my shop time.

[Jim Andrew]

My eyes always were sore after sanding, and I got a Bosch ROS with the dust cartridge, didn't do hardly any good, but tried hooking my vacuum cleaner to it and what a difference it made! Now it's just hand sanding that bothers, so I use a fan with a furnace filter to get rid of the dust close to my bench. Suppose you could use one of those air cleaners as well.

[Tom Hammond]

My four-year old grandson saw me in my industrial goggles and ran in to put on his swimming goggles. I saw him in them and thought "why not?" Tried a pair out and like them much better, but still wear the safety pair when I'm doing anything other than sanding or minor rips and crosscuts.

[Neil Brooks]

Easy on the swim goggles, too.

Moderation.

They decrease the availability of oxygen to the corneas. Over time, and with repeated and/or prolonged use, this COULD be a problem.

I've recently been reading a paper by the National Academy of Sciences ON the impact of decreased oxygen to corneas. Their angle was military pilots -- particularly those wearing contact lenses.

[Matthew Hills]

Things I'd look in to:
- minimize sanding (hand planes / card scrapers)
- use sanders with effective dust collection (festool are reportedly pretty good; I've also got a little PC that is okay w/ shop vac)
- make sure any dust-collectors you use have a suitably fine filter (low-end ones come with very coarse bags and can put fine dust back into the air)
- use down-draft table
- use air filter to clear out air after dust-producing operations
- trend airshield
- sand outside
- sand outside with shop fan blowing across your work piece
- are you sensitive with all wood species?
- don't rub your eyes before washing your hands

Matt

[Jon Grider]

This thread is right on time for me. Thanks all and especially Neal for the input. I'm 55, and have had on and off irritation of my eyes for the last 10 years or so. In January, I was treated for 'pink eye' for the umpteenth time, the antibiotic drops were Gentamycin which made my eyes even worse. Next was Tobramyacin which I learned contains a steroid. The irritation went away, but returned in about 10 days after using the drops for the prescribed period. Now, however I've had several weeks of near continual tearing of both eyes. The only time they seem to stop is at night while sleeping. I'm thinking now this problem is allergy related. I too have been working with cherry and doing a ton of sanding. I have 2 Jet air filters and a dust collection system for most of the major tools, but not adequate enough for the sanding I've done. My eyes seem to itch and feel like I have sand in them when I'm in the shop. I think my next project will be a downdraft table in addition to making a more serious and concerted effort to control the dust at the point of origin, as well as a good pair of wrap around goggles. Thanks to all who shared I am truly thankful for the OP and the timing of this thread.

[Kieran Kammerer]

Tobramycin itself does not contain a steroid but like gentamicin, is an antibiotic in the aminoglycoside class. You most likely were prescribed Tobradex that contains tobramycin and a steroid, dexamethasone. Just a clarification. Kieran

[Jon Grider]

Tobramycin itself does not contain a steroid but like gentamicin, is an antibiotic in the aminoglycoside class. You most likely were prescribed Tobradex that contains tobramycin and a steroid, dexamethasone. Just a clarification. Kieran

Yes that's correct it was Tobradex.

[Keith Harrell]

Well thanks again for all the suggestions. I have never had an allergy to any wood but think maybe I'm in overdoes mode doing this chair. I started my six eye drop prescription this week and it seems to be getting better. My worry as been for how long but as other mentioned it's time to quit playing around with dust and start using the proper technique. I guess I need to stop telling myself I'll just sand this little piece and suit up or turn on the proper dust collection if I need to really start sanding. Glad other have gotten around this issue and continue to woodwork one way or another. I need to build a down draft table or start doing it more outside as the weather has gotten nice.