title: Prevalence of color vision deficiency among arc welders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to investigate whether occupationally related color vision deficiency can occur from welding.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 male welders, who had been working as welders for at least 4 years, were randomly selected as case group, and 50 age matched non-welder men, who lived in the same area, were regarded as control group. Color vision was assessed using the Lanthony desatured panel D-15 test. The test was performed under the daylight fluorescent lamp with a spectral distribution of energy with a color temperature of 6500K and a color rendering index of 94 that provided 1000lx on the work plane. The test was carried out monocularly and no time limit was imposed. All data analysis were performed using SPSS, version 22.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of dyschromatopsia among welders was 15% which was statistically higher than that of nonwelder group (2%) (p=0.001). Among welders with dyschromatopsia, color vision deficiency in 72.7% of cases was monocular. There was positive relationship between the employment length and color vision loss (p=0.04). Similarly, a significant correlation was found between the prevalence of color vision deficiency and average working hours of welding a day (p=0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic exposure to welding light may cause color vision deficiency. The damage depends on the exposure duration and the length of their employment as welders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Science, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heydarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Science, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: Mahjoob_opt@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahjoob
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Science, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gholami
authors.affiliation: Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Sajjad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veysi
authors.affiliation: Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D014896:Welding
keywords: Color vision deficiency; Deficiencia de la visión del color; Exposición a la luz ultravioleta; Lanthony D-15 test; Luz de soldadura; Test D-15 de Lanthony; Ultraviolet exposure; Welding light