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.