Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

[MetalManiac]

I've always lived in fear of a popped string while tuning going like a devil ray and the end of it hitting my eyeball. You physics guys- is this possible?
On a side note, if I were to tally all the times the end of a string drew blood from a finger over the last 30 years, mostly at the headstock, I'd say its easily 50 times or more ..in fact, I stepped on a string on the floor last night and it stuck in my foot near the toe, and it hurt like hell for a little while.

 

[SamusChief]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

Of course its possible. It could definitely slash your eyeball wide open, spilling jelly everywhere.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

Of course its possible. It could definitely slash your eyeball wide open, spilling jelly everywhere.

thanks to you, I'll never touch a guitar again. Hope your happy.
Wait, I could always wear safety glasses.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

Wait, I could aways wear safety glasses.

Make sure they're ANSI certified for impact resistance.

 

[SamusChief]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

 

[Dr.K]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

It would definetly depend on if it was standard tuning or not and which string. With standard tuning and an unwound G it would probably go entirely through your eye and sever your retinal nerve, permanently blinding you in that eye. You need to be really careful. I definitely recomend wearing a full face safety shield any time you're restinging, tuning or playing the guitar. If it makes you feel any better, you probably have a better chance of getting hit by lightning on a partly cloudy day. :biglaugh:

 

[jeremy]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

a friend of mine almost lost an eye because of a guitar string. not in this manner but it never hurts to be careful

 

[AlexR]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

Its all fun and games until someones losses an eye

 

[jeremy]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

he only had one real eye at the time too. lost the other one in a construction accident

 

[MattPete]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

Yes.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

As someone who has been going through eye problems recently, I can tell you that you probably would not "lose" the eye, but you could definitely give yourself an epithelial and possibly a corneal abrasion. Both would heal, but the healing could produce complications that can alter your vision - such as scarring or hazing. If it happens, I would go see an Ophthalmologist immediately. If anything, they'd put you on antibiotic drops to prevent infection, and possibly a run of steroidal drops to control the healing/scarring.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

gosh....why did I read this thread? im going out start wearing safety goggles when i tune now :28:

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

I dunno, man. Every time I pop a string it never shoots up anywhere near my eyes. I think you're safe, unless you play like a 12-year-old beginner.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

I've just had the high e on 2 guitars go explosively. Luckily the string tree helped to deflect its direction, but they were nowhere near my eyes either time

Oh yeah, and I had both of them on the bench for solder work at the time

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

I've always lived in fear of a popped string while tuning going like a devil ray and the end of it hitting my eyeball. You physics guys- is this possible?
On a side note, if I were to tally all the times the end of a string drew blood from a finger over the last 30 years, mostly at the headstock, I'd say its easily 50 times or more ..in fact, I stepped on a string on the floor last night and it stuck in my foot near the toe, and it hurt like hell for a little while.

Honestly bro, I have had that same fear for a long time as well. I know a guitar string in the finger don't feel good at all.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

I once had this Global Strat copy that had a really thick finish on the maple fretboard. A string snapped while tuning it and it stuck in the finish on the board. I needed pliers to remove it, and the bump in the clearcoat never went away.

And if I had a nickel for every time a snapped string caught me in the finger.....


Always tune while holding the fretboard away from you.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

I guess its possible. But for all the guitar players ive ever known ive never heard of anyone taking a string in the eye.. or even a close call... I think your more likely to get hit by a bus crossing the street. Some people worry over remote possibilities too much

 

[Varg]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

I always put a hand over the strings when I'm tuning them, just in case, have done for years, think I read it suggested somewhere.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

Do people really break strings that often when tuning?

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Can a snapped string pop a hole in your cornea?

Do people really break strings that often when tuning?

That's what I'm wondering.... I don't think I've ever broken a string while tuning a guitar....