Long Term effects of edging.

**eyecarepro** · 03-30-2006, 09:08 PM

I once heard of an optician who filed a suit against some lab or vendor because he developed some serious condition thought to be directly linked to chemicals or materials used in the lab he worked in. I've recently started to work in much closer proximity to lenses being edged than I used to work- (practically ontop of them), being tinted, grooved, edged, pin-beveled, etc. I guess I'm a little paranoid after hearing that story of the optician who got sick. Isn't A/R stripper caustic? What about neutralizer- that gets pretty pungent after it's been heated. Obviously it is not reccomended to be regularly and deliberately inhaling the high index powder as it wafts from the edger during a cut, or the fumes from the tint unit. I'm just curious, alright CONCERNED, that any one of these chemicals or materials I'm working with could possibly even make me STERILE. I do still want to have children someday. Could someone who really knows what they're talking about please shed some light on this for me?

**Jubilee** · 03-30-2006, 10:10 PM

There has been some discussions on lab safety in the past. If you do a search several threads should come up.

Chris Ryser had made a few threads discussing particular products as well.

Cassandra

**jofelk** · 03-31-2006, 06:12 AM

I have worked in a lab for 26 years. I get yearly check ups. I have no health problems related to our industry. We hear alot of ... " I heard this story about someone who got something from somewhere ...". I have not not seen any harm from working in an optical lab. BE SAFE and BE SMART. Eat right and exercise regularly. Enjoy life. Do not worry so much!

**Jubilee** · 03-31-2006, 06:41 AM

There are some hazardous chemicals in the lab. Different people with different chemistrys can have no problem with long term exposure and some people can.

Common problem areas are:
Tint units with HTF and the lack of venting
Coating chemicals
Dusts over time can cause issues with lungs
Alloy does contain cadmium, maganese, and lead.

Use gloves with alloy and coatings, maintain proper venilation for the various chemicals, and be careful.

I have had my health compromised by lab chemicals. Acute exposure to HT 825 and the long term exposure to the dusts and silica has caused lung issues with industrial bronchitis and reduced lung volumes.

Cassandra

**Slug** · 03-31-2006, 07:29 AM

If you truly are concerned, check the infromation you have available firsthand! I would review all of the MSDS sheets (your company should have them for all the chemicals they use) and verify handling procedures and PPE necessary to be safe.

**Chris Ryser** · 03-31-2006, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by Slug

If you truly are concerned, check the infromation you have available firsthand! I would review all of the MSDS sheets (your company should have them for all the chemicals they use) and verify handling procedures and PPE necessary to be safe.

I got some news for you in tne way of MSDS sheets................... In our optical lab field many of these MSDS sheets do not deal with the product when it is in use.

Example: Lens Dye Neutralizers.....................no big deal when cold, just a solvent without fumes. That is what the majority of the MSDS sheets tell you. Just take the basic way of caution.

However when heated, they emit a different world of poisonous effects............................................like damage to brain cells, damage to kidneys and liver.

So do not take MSDS sheets at their face value, look at the ingredients and what you are doing with them.

Chemicals are used world wide and we could not be without them for millions of reasons. They are all safe if you use proper precautions.

This is also why I also invented the first lens dye neutralizer that contains NO solvents, is water and surfactant based, emits no fumes, does not damage any type of lenses and works even faster than the conventional toxic type everybody is using from their regular tint suppliers.

**Lady Nicole** · 03-31-2006, 10:59 AM

I worked with an optician once who had done work in a small private optical, I believe it was in a doctor's practice. They didn't have her doing edging, but she was tinting lenses regularly in a very small room with no ventilation. She told me that after time she had some very serious skin reactions from the fumes which forced her to quit the job. I don't know what machine or chemicals she was using.

The moral of the story is, she had problems because there were no safety precautions in place. Follow the safety directions for all the chemicals and equipment you're using, use a lot of common sense, and you will probably be just fine.

:cheers:

**Chris Ryser** · 04-02-2006, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Nicole

.......................... but she was tinting lenses regularly in a very small room with no ventilation.
..................... she had problems because there were no safety precautions in place. Follow the safety directions for all the chemicals and equipment you're using, ................................... :cheers:

Sadly enough in the tinting business, nobody has said or recommended that conventional tinting should only be done when you have ventilation to the outside. You can not use common sense if you dont know about the problems that can occur..