Prescription Safety Glasses

Prescription Safety Glasses: For Your Eyes Only

There are certain jobs and hobbies that pose a higher than normal risk to your eyes. These could include welding, construction, medical labs, motorbike riding and other environments where there is a high amount of dust or flying debris. If you work in such a job environment or pursue any one of the high-risk hobbies, then protecting your eyes is sure to be your top priority. However, if you wear prescription glasses for normal activities, you will have to find a way to protect your eyes while still being able to see clearly. The best solution in this case is to wear prescription safety glasses.

Why Wearing Prescription Glasses Under Safety Glasses is Not Advisable

Many people who wear prescription glasses regularly will just slip on a pair of safety glasses over these and get on with their work. However, this is not a good idea primarily the safety glasses will most likely not fit properly over the regular pair. Not only is this uncomfortable but under the wrong conditions, it could be downright dangerous as well. For maximum protection, it is far better to buy a pair of prescription safety glasses. There are different types that are designed for different purposes and different situations.

Bifocal Prescription Safety Glasses

If you need to wear bifocals in your everyday life and cannot function properly without them, a standard pair of safety glasses is not going to be suitable for you. While it may offer you the necessary protection while you are engaged in your job, you will find it near impossible to do the job well simply because you will not be able to see clearly with a standard lens. Going without either one of the glasses adds a certain level of stress as it means you are compromising either on your safety or your efficiency.

In such a situation, what you need is a pair of bifocal safety glasses. These offer your eyes the protection they need while allowing you to work unhindered.

Different Types of Prescription Safety Glasses for Assorted Environments

There are several situations where prescription safety glasses are essential. These include working with dangerous chemicals in a laboratory, fishing and while motorbike riding.

Prescription safety glasses for laboratory use are designed to offer spray and splash protection and are part of the set of safety and protective gear mandated by OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Glasses worn for fishing should be able to protect the eyes from the glare of the sun and should also protect the eyes from exposure to UV radiation. These lenses are typically polarized so that they can adjust their tint according to the variations in the light conditions. Safety glasses for fishing help improve visual capacity while also protecting the eyes from the direct UV rays as well as the glare.
Motorcycle Glasses protect the eyes from dust, wind and flying debris as well as insects. When riding a motorcycle, you are exposed to higher risk as compared to someone driving a car and things like dust, wind and insects pose more than a mere annoyance- it can be downright dangerous. You need to wear those safety glasses but you also need your prescription glasses so you can see where you are going. The solution- prescription safety glasses.

Prescription Safety Goggles

There are certain situations where you may need more protection than what a pair of safety glasses can offer. In this case what you need are prescription safety goggles.

For example, if you swim a lot or you do a lot of welding, you will need to protect your eyes while still being able to see clearly. Wearing just your regular prescription glasses or even just your non-prescription safety glasses is impractical in both cases. Your prescription glasses may help you navigate your way around clearly but offer no protection at all whereas you may find it difficult to do anything with just a pair of non prescription protective goggles.

Tips for Choosing the Best Prescription Safety Glasses for You

You will first need to visit an optician to get your vision checked and get a prescription. With this prescription, you can either order a new pair of glasses either at your neighbourhood optics store or you can order one through an online optician store.
Prescription safety glasses come in a wide array of colours, sizes and styles and at a wide range of prices. The best ones for you will depend upon the type of job or hobby you need them for but there are certain basic criteria that apply to all
First of all, safety eyewear should meet the safety standards set by OSHA.
The glasses should be lightweight and comfortable so they can be worn for extended periods of time without any discomfort. They should also fit firmly and safely around the face without any chance of slipping off while working.
The best lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is lighter than plastic and has higher impact and dent resistance properties. Look for those that have multiple coatings as these are more resistant to scratches and cracking. The multiple coatings also help enhance their resistance to impact.
In some environments where there are changes in temperature or humidity levels, fogging can be an occupational hazard. Lenses that have anti-fogging capability ensure that your vision will remain unhampered even in extreme conditions.

Your ultimate choice of prescription safety glasses will be dictated by your work environment, your own personal preference and your budget. Spend a little time comparing the styles at prices at online vendors and you are sure to find the perfect pair for your requirements.

Safety Goggles: The Best Protection For Your Eyes

Safety goggles are the best form of protection for your eyes in conditions where an additional degree of protection is necessary. There are several activities and environments that expose the eyes to some type of risk. Riding, swimming or working in a laboratory or construction puts your eyes at risk.

These risks could be in the form of dust, sand, chemicals, flying insects or shrapnel. At times like this, a pair of safety goggles will offer your eyes maximum protection.

Salient Features of Safety Goggles

Safety goggles are typically made from the strongest materials to ensure maximum protection. They feature frames that are tough, heavy duty and heat and impact resistant. The frames are designed to prevent the lenses from being pushed in towards the eyes. Lenses are constructed from different materials but those that are made of polycarbonate offer the highest degree of protection.

All goggles are not designed the same. Different goggles are designed differently to suit the purpose they are being used for. Wrap around goggles are especially designed for someone working in a lab, to ensure that the vapors from the solution do not affect the eyes. Goggles worn at a construction site are designed to be more snug fitting to prevent pieces of metal or wood from getting into the eyes from the top, bottom or sides.

Different Types for Different Purposes

When looking for a pair of safety goggles, it is important to first determine where and when you will be wearing it and then buy a pair designed for that particular environment. You will get the best level of protection only when wearing the right pair for the right purpose.

Take a look at and undestand the different types of safety eye wear that is available and what they are meant for:

Fire and Rescue Safety Goggles

Fire and rescue goggles combine several innovative technologies and high performance materials to deliver outstanding protection when fire-fighting. They offer superior optical clarity, higher impact resistance and higher resistance to heat and fogging.

Military & Tactical Goggles

These are designed for extreme environments. All components including the lenses are constructed using reinforced materials that can handle anything that’s thrown at them under battlefield conditions. The lenses are ballistic rated for impact protection. Military and Tactical goggles typically feature interchangeable lenses so can be used for day as well as night time operations.

Splash Safety Goggles

As the name suggests, splash safety goggles protect the wearer from any liquid splash. This is done using covered vents or no vents at all. These goggles are very useful with working with any type of corrosive or hazardous liquids.
Perforated Goggles
Perforated goggles are used to protect your eyes from large flying debris such as sawdust when you are sawing or grinding. The perforations boost ventilation and prevent fogging.

Convertible Goggles

For those times when you do not need the extra protection that convertible safety goggles offer, these can double up as safety glasses. The goggles come with the straps, foam padded gasket and temples so they can be interchanged when necessary. In some models the foam gasket is removable.
Motorcycle Goggles provide maximum eye protection when you ride
Riding a bike at high speeds expose your eyes to several elements including wind, debris, rain and bugs. A pair of motorcycle goggles offers maximum protection when you ride and are a much better choice as compared to wearing a cooler pair of motorcycle riding glasses.

Welding Goggles

In keeping with their extreme application, welding goggles have a highly specialized design that help protect your eyes from the heat and the flying debris during most types of gas welding and oxygen cutting applications. Most importantly, they also offer protection from the intense infrared and ultraviolet light that could otherwise cause Photoketatitis or sunburn of the cornea. The lenses in these goggles are rated as Shade 3 or Shade 5 filter lenses. An important note to keep in mind is that regular welding goggles can be used only for gas welding and oxygen cutting. They are not suitable for arc welding, which requires stronger lenses and darker filters.

Foam Padded Goggles

Designed with foam padding around the eye cup, these goggles offer an enhanced degree of protection in environments where there is a lot of flying debris. They are typically used in windy or dry, dusty conditions. They also come in anti-fog versions for use when there are broad changes in temperature or when doing high exertion jobs.

Fit-Over Goggles

Fit-over goggles include a large category of safety goggles that can be worn over prescription eyewear.

Factors to Consider When Buying Safety Goggles

One of the biggest dilemmas most people face when looking for safety goggles is that eternal struggle between fashion and function. After all, everybody wants to look good even when they are working. However, the important thing to keep in mind is that a pair of safety goggles should enhance your vision and not obstruct your view while you work or ride.

Fortunately, unlike the bulky, unattractive versions of yesteryear, today’s safety eye wear have trendy, stylish designs that do not in any way compromise the safety of your eyes.

Eye sizes, temple lengths and bridge sizes vary from one individual to another and safety goggles come in different sizes and configurations to meet these variations. It is important to ensure that the ones you choose fit well with the frame as close as possible to the face and adequately supported by the bridge of the nose. They should also be comfortable when worn.

If you wear prescription glasses then you really do need prescription safety glasses

There are several different types and styles of goggles for each application and environment. Take your time and explore your options so you can make the best choice for your requirement.

Welding Goggles Offer Protection When You Need It Most

With all of the risks that surround the eyes during the process of welding, it is crucial to create an environment that poses the least amount of danger to the eyes once the torch is lit. A pair of welding goggles offers your eyes the best protection in this environment.

In addition to providing clear visibility, these safety goggles shield the eyes from shrapnel and radiation that are associated with any welding work. The infrared, ultraviolet and bright lights that are typically emitted during welding can cause temporary or sometimes even permanent blindness.

Safety Features of Welding Goggles

Eye protection for welding is constructed from highly durable material, highly impact-resistant materials such as shatterproof glass. They are designed to be tough enough to withstand the impact of flying shrapnel that will be traveling at very high speed. The wraparound design provides maximum protection from the sparks.

Comfort and fit are crucial factors that need to be taken into consideration when buying welding goggles. A pair that is too heavy or too right can blind the welder because of excessive sweat dripping down the forehead.

Newer models of welding goggles have polycarbonate lenses. These are thinner and lighter yet tougher than the more conventional plastic lenses. Polycarbonate lenses offer the right combination of fit and convenience without compromising on protection.

Anti-fog coating, bi-focal or magnified lenses enhance visibility when required.

Welding goggles have a flexible frame and an elastic band that allow them to fit any head size. Some models are designed to be worn even on top of prescription glasses.

Vintage welding goggles and steampunk goggles are very popular but be sure to check out that they will afford you the right protection for the job. Do not just use them because they look good.

All welding glasses are not the same. The filters vary widely according to the type of work being done. Goggles that are most appropriate for one type of welding will not necessarily be appropriate for another type of welding.

Polycarbonate lenses v/s Glass Lenses

Older models of eye protection for welders used to have glass lenses but these had several limitations. For one thing, they were heavier and thicker and they also had a lower impact resistance, all of which rendered them almost ineffective when it came to eye protection. While they offered a certain degree of protection from shrapnel, they did not provide any protection from the harmful radiation produced during welding.

Polycarbonate lenses tougher and stronger than their glass counterparts. This strength is reinforced by hard coating them to increase their impact resistance even more. Additionally, they are treated with the appropriated shade so they can cope with the bright lights that emanate from an electric arc weld. The absence of this protection can result in a painful condition called Photokeratitis, which is severe sunburn of the cornea.

Lenses made of this resultant material are at least 10 times more impact resistant as compared to ordinary glass and they have the ability to filter out almost 100% of harmful radiation. In addition to their superior protective features, polycarbonate lenses are also lighter and thinner so they are more comfortable to wear.

In the U.S., all welding goggles must meet the standards set by the ANSI or American National Standards Institute.