Welding With Eyes. Prolonged exposure over time can cause permanent vision damage as well. Welding without wearing the helmet is more like a suicide mission for your own eyes.
And both UV and IR are extremely hazardous to your eyes. Thats the reason you need to take preventive measures so that your eyes dont hurt after welding activities. Typically caused by welding it can also be onset by other UVBUVC sources.
Even though most of these injuries are temporary the pain can be intense.
Learn the optimal settings for your auto-darkening helmet. Wearing a welding mask is the easiest way to keep your eyes consistently safe. If you have viewed welding without protective eyewear consult with an eye doctor right away to assess any damage that occurred to your eyes. And both UV and IR are extremely hazardous to your eyes.