What symptoms are expected to occur 3-8 hours after onset in arc eye?

In the context of arc eye, which is a condition caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, especially from sources such as welding arcs, the most notable symptom that typically arises 3-8 hours after exposure is intense bilateral lacrimation. This symptom occurs because the UV light causes inflammatory changes in the surface of the cornea, leading to pain and irritation. The body naturally responds to this irritation by producing tears in an attempt to flush out the irritant and protect the eye.

Intense bilateral lacrimation is a hallmark indication of the damage done to the corneal epithelium and reflects the acute inflammatory process that can occur following UV exposure. It's common for individuals experiencing arc eye to report significant tear production, often accompanied by other symptoms like pain, photophobia, and redness.

While dry eye sensations, severe glare sensitivity, and sudden loss of vision might occur in related eye conditions or separately, they do not characterize the immediate reaction following UV exposure in the same way that intense lacrimation does. Dry eye sensations can develop for many reasons and are not a direct symptom of UV damage. Severe glare sensitivity may be present, but it is not as specific or immediate as the lacrimation response. Sudden loss of vision,