Lights and eye damage

[Redrum92]

How bad are LEDs or HIDs for your eyes, cumulatively? Does anyone actually know? Do you guys always wear sunglasses during lights on?

I don't want to think that I could be doing damage to my retinas that won't show up til I'm 50 and suddenly I'm completely blind. Sometimes I'm stupid with no sunglasses, and my eyes don't go back to normal for an hour at least

edit: Im running super low wattage compared to most of you

 

[exploziv]

Very dangerous. I already lost part of my vision cause of them, especially while I was a stupid kid and not caring about this. You need to protect yourself. I would dim the lights if I have to be under them, even with glasses. When using hps I also installed cfl's on a diferent switch for light when I am working in the room, so I don't keep the hps on. Do whatever you can to protect your eyesight. The sun will do enaugh damage over the years too, if you aren't using sunglasses. Lights can be even more powerful than that, because of how close we can get to them. And you don't even have to look into them straight to get damage. Protect yourself.

 

[TychoMonolyth]

Would you look directly at the sun? Just don't look directly at them for a long time. lol

The brightest day outside is about 2000 PPFD (micro mol's per meter squared per second). Not many home LEDs can pump out that much, so with a really good grow light (~1000w) you're super lucky to hit 1500 PPFD. So think of your tent as you would outside. Which is pretty safe.

Now all bets are off if you're using anti bacterial UVA or B lights. But I doubt very much you have them. If you do, then you know to use sun glasses.

 

[mexweed]

I don't wear sunglasses, but I'm always bent over looking down when I'm in the tent tending to plants, and if I have to do anything with the ventilation my back is to the light, and for the veg side I'm always above the light or looking down on the plants and it's not as intense as the light in the bigger section, but I still never look directly at them, like if I barely crack it and am staring down the row my eyes are down under the plants checking the tops of the buckets not looking up at the underside of the leaves or anything

 

[highfidelity]

I dont wear glasses until the lights are raised past eye level. If I'm looking down through the bars (Mars Hydro Leds I'm not worried but as soon as they're above eye level I don't think it's worth taking the chance.

 

[Budz Lightyear]

Since the last two years I always wear shades when the lights are on. Even if I'm just opening the tent to look iside. Just the glare/reflection from the tent floor and walls is so intense and gives me a migrane, couple hours later, if I dont wear shades.

 

[exploziv]

Right! My eyes have troubles adjusting when I open the tent with light anywhere near 50% dimming or more. I then know in a second I forgot the glasses. I was also lucky to find the right shade of sunglasses so that plant colour look normal under my mars hydro fc light when I have them on. Win win!

 

[Bush Dr]

Sunglasses won’t make much difference, class3 welders spectacles will

 

[Budz Lightyear]

Sunglasses won’t make much difference, class3 welders spectacles will

They actually make a huge difference ime. I use them every day.

 

[Rider420]

HID lights are used at most big box stores and warehouses and have been for decades. No one has gone blind. FYI the sun is a fuck of a lot brighter then HID or LED lights.

 

[exploziv]

Look at hanging heights when used for illumination, tho..

 

[Creeperpark]

How bad are LEDs or HIDs for your eyes, cumulatively? Does anyone actually know? Do you guys always wear sunglasses during lights on?

I don't want to think that I could be doing damage to my retinas that won't show up til I'm 50 and suddenly I'm completely blind. Sometimes I'm stupid with no sunglasses, and my eyes don't go back to normal for an hour at least

Every time it takes an hour for your eyes to go back to normal is a sign your eyes are being damaged. The normal time from bright to dark is approximately 20–30 minutes to fully adapt from bright light to normal light. Always wear a baseball cap and sunglasses under any light that grows plants. Being over 50 and not being able to see is really a bitch.

 

[Douglas.Curtis]

We stand a lot closer to our lights than other situations, it is definitely safer to be cautious than damaged. Much of the worst damage goes unnoticed until it is fsr too late. One of life's not so fun surprises.

I used to grow micro, and those lights are worse as you are often inches from them when working.

Regular lamps for 'working' are always a smart choice.

 

[Redrum92]

Thanks for all the info! Will be more careful from now on. I don't make the habit of looking directly at them, but the aura/reflection can be intense up close, even with the very low wattage i used.

 

[goingrey]

Sunglasses are a no-brainer. Not only is it more safe, it's also more comfortable.

 

[Gry]

I keep regular old 60 Watt bulbs in my areas and turn off any lights that will be right in my face be they HPS MH, OR LED, and I use the regular old 60 bulbs
to see and work with. One would think the nose would become more acute and sensitive too the smell of bulb burns, as we get older, but life does not seem to work that way.

 

[exploziv]

Why not use a screw in led for that, tho? Those 60 W of inefficient reddish light would be replaced by more daylight spectrum light with under 10W draw, instead of 60W.. because of leds efficiency.

 

[Mars Hydro Led]

just don't look at the light straight, it will be okay.