Can light from HID lamps damage your eyes?

[Woall]

I am wondering about the effects high intensity lights can have on a person's eyes, if they spend much time in a lit grow room. Is wearing sunglasses enough?

Have any of you all ever looked directly at an HPS bulb at close distance? Obviously this is not smart... I have glanced at it once or twice, I just wonder how easy it would be to permanently damage your retina by doing that.

I would be interested in anyone's thoughts on this subject.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

i'm sure someone will come along and provide you a full scientific explaination but i can tell you this; when i was using 1k's vertical i only needed to go in once without sunglasses to know that was going to damage my eyes. if possible i would shut off the lights and work under floro's and a camping fluro lamp. now i have one light with a 6" A/C hood so no shades. ...since i cant see directly into the bulb. but those vert growers know what i mean.

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

I searched your question online and found this. Basically don't look at them when you are real close or for extended periods of time would be my guess to safety. get some cheap shades if you are worried.
Don't stick your head in the canopy and look up trying to "be one" with your plants.

WARNING: Using HID Lamps on Construction Sites Can Be Hazardous to Workers


Many electrical contractors are using High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps to provide temporary lighting on construction sites. Although this provides all contractors with increased illumination levels to perform their work tasks, it also increases the risk of eye and facial injuries from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Some time ago, the Washington DC Chapter of NECA issued a warning about eye burn hazard from exposure to HID lighting. We recommended mounting luminaires at a high level in the work area to minimize employee exposure, and turning off HID fixtures when people were working in an elevated position near them.

Recently, a chapter member company had a job site incident that resulted in multiple sub-contractor employees having eye problems; one employee’s eyes swelling almost closed due to injury. The HID lamp had been cracked and wasn’t the self-extinguishing type.

In 1998, the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection in Western Australia published a safety and health alert regarding mercury vapor and metal halide lamps due to an incident at a public event. Since then, the Food and Drug Administration has also issued a warning on the subject.

 

[Woall]

yeah, I have sort of been looking up at the plants, looking for little buds underneath the canopy to pick off. While doing this I don't look directly at the bulb but I am looking in its direction. I wonder if you have to focus on the bulb itself, or if you are looking up but focusing on a bud, if that makes a big difference. I'm not going to look up at the plant anymore... just worried about any damage already done.

 

[LadyLargely]

Meh, don't worry too much. HPS throws off tons of IR radiation and visible light, not much else. The tremendous intensity of the lamps can be painful, but the effects will not be permanent. The worst that could happen is something like going snow blind.

What you have to watch out for with permanent vision damage is UV radiation. MH lamps make a lot of this (even some UV-B!!!) and while their glass enclosures are designed to filter out most of this radiation, it doesn't get it all.

The only other potential for permanent vision damage to an average cannabis gardener would be a close encounter with one of these:



High-powered Ultra Violet spectrum floros. A tube like mine will throw off a tremendous 2 watts of UV-B radiation. Doesn't sound like much but trust me, its a LOT! I keep a couple pairs of UV-B rated polycarbonate safety glasses around for the times that I run them.

Other than that you have little to fear. Happy growing!

 

[ItsAllOver]

I've been thinking about this lately. I try to wear shades in the lab, but it's kind of a PITA honestly. I hear you on that vertical, though. I'll be keeping that in mind.

 

[Woall]

LadyLargely, thank you.. that makes me feel better.

 

[Littleleaf]

Yes

inferred is what causes cataracts. Being a welder we were told that the red hot steal was harder on your eyes than the ark from the welder. I does more permanent damage.

 

[milehighmedical]

I try to wear a good pair of shades, but I always forget. It can't be good, and it's definitely painful. I like watching bulbs fire up though, bad habit.

 

[statusquo]

Don't stick your head in the canopy and look up trying to "be one" with your plants.

Beautiful.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Meh, don't worry too much. HPS throws off tons of IR radiation and visible light, not much else. The tremendous intensity of the lamps can be painful, but the effects will not be permanent. The worst that could happen is something like going snow blind.

Over time it does do damage to the eye that doesn't heal and acerbates other potential issues in the eye. See the welding reference above.

Wear your shades if your eyes will see the 'element' even out of the corner of your eye. UV-B rated shades are the best and most shades are capable of this these days.

 

[Woall]

I have a 250 HPS and I try not to catch the bulb in my field of vision, even out of the corner of my eye. And I wear quality sunglasses. But after being in my grow room for a little while, watering or just looking at the plants, my eyes feel a little stressed afterwards. If you're just looking at your plants with an HPS shining down on them, but the the reflector is blocking the bulb, could that damage your eyes? It seems like the light reflecting off the leaves and mylar is pretty intense. I think I'm just going to turn the lights off whenever I have to tend to the plants. Can't believe I haven't been doing this all along.

 

[Dr Dog]

I always wear eye protection

I find even staring even at floros hurts

 

[DocLeaf]

Yes.

They really damage your eyes when they implode/explode in your face ,, (we thought we were blind)

 

[Woall]

Dr Dog, what kind of eye protection do you wear? just regular sunglasses?

 

[smokesalot420]

I wear polarized Oakleys when I'm working..... A little pricey but they are worth it!

 

[Hydro-Soil]

It seems like the light reflecting off the leaves and mylar is pretty intense. I think I'm just going to turn the lights off whenever I have to tend to the plants. Can't believe I haven't been doing this all along.

You'll notice an improvement in your night-vision when you start caring for your garden without that light on The thing I like about using CFL's for tending is they make it a lot easier to see the natural color of the plant. I find that I can identify issues much quicker in the whiter light.... things aren't all washed out orange.

 

[thcisallIneed]

I have some bright lights in my garden 4x1000W switchables and i either where oakley sunglasses in my garden or turn of the HID and use the over head shop light.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

I have some bright lights in my garden 4x1000W switchables and i either where oakley sunglasses in my garden or turn of the HID and use the over head shop light.

Smart


First run in my PL-L cab I spent a lot of time with my eyes about 6-10" from the nearest lamp. After a couple weeks I could see a 'mist' or light 'haze' across everything when the light hit my eyes just right. Sucked big-time. It's gone now and I definitely urge people to be careful when that close to a lamp.

Stay Safe Everyone!