Guide To Buying Prescription Safety Glasses

Protect your eyes and enjoy comfortable views with the latest prescription safety eyewear. If you need to pick up a pair of safety glasses for work, or you're planning to take on a project that involves flying debris, find out how to buy the best pair of safety glasses to fit your needs. Stay safe on the job or around your home as you take on a DIY project or enjoy your favourite hobby.

What To Look For in Safety Glasses

At their most basic, safety glasses should be safe. Most safety eyewear are designed to comply with one or more certification standards. In most cases, you'll need to choose certified safety eyewear for your workplace eye protection.

Other features aren't required, but are very useful to look for in safety glasses. Look for a pair that offers these features for a comfortable experience as you work or enjoy your hobby:

  • Comfortable, durable frames
  • Prescription lenses
  • Lens tints
  • Lens coatings
  • Stylish designs

These features help you go from a basic pair of functional safety glasses to comfortable eyewear you love to wear whenever you're on the job site or enjoying your hobby.

Frame Technology

Most of the features that set quality safety eyewear apart are in the lenses, so it's easy to overlook frame technology. The frames are key to keeping your eyewear comfortable, safe and stylish.

Look for frames that comfortably fit your face. The arm length and frame width vary and should be matched to your face shape. This helps keep them on and keep you comfortable.

Frames should also be durable enough to handle your work environment. Just like the lenses, look for frames that are shatter-resistant and can be dropped without becoming excessively damaged.

Consider prescription safety goggles for a more flexible design. Goggles come with adjustable straps and can be secured to your face even as you participate in sports or other fast-paced tasks.

What Is ANSI?

You'll encounter many safety glasses that are ANSI approved. ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute. It oversees standards and assesses safety eyewear to ensure it remains in line with those standards.

Your employer may require you to purchase ANSI or OSHA approved eyewear. While ANSI approval doesn't ensure workplace safety standards are enforced, the voluntary standards it sets are still useful for comparing the quality and safety of eyewear.

Lens Technology

The most important feature in prescription safety glasses is the right set of lenses. The lenses are what offer prescription vision, impact protection, UV protection and other key features. Here are some main features to look for in dependable lenses:

  • High impact rating
  • UV protection
  • Tinting, if working outdoors
  • Prescription
  • Anti-fog coating
  • Anti-scratch coating

Lenses can be tinted in a number of shades and colors. Some, like blue or yellow, are actually designed to improve low-light vision in outdoor use. Others, like gray, brown or black, shield your eyes from harsh reflections and direct sun exposure.

Anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings are essential for durable eyewear. The side shields that are common on safety glasses can promote fogging, particularly on goggles or if you're working while wearing your glasses. An anti-fog coating reduces the risk of fog affecting your vision.

Anti-scratch coating keeps your eyewear investment safe if you store them without a case or drop them. Scratches also affect your vision and can compromise the durability of your lenses.

Common Safety Standards

The two most common safety standards for eyewear are provided by OSHA and ANSI. OSHA safety standards are designed primarily for workplace safety. These safety glasses can be used for other tasks, but the safety standards help ensure construction workers and other professionals avoid workplace injuries.

ANSI approval is voluntary for eye and face protection. These standards not only set criteria for physical requirements, but require certain levels of coverage and impact resistance. The voluntary standards set by ANSI can be adopted by OSHA and required for workplace compliance, so ANSI certified safety glasses are approved for use in workplaces, according to OSHA.

Order Prescription Glasses Today

Whether you're preparing to start a new job or looking to stay safe during your favorite hobby, it's time to pick up prescription safety glasses. Shop for safety glasses today at Eyeglasses Pro to enjoy great deals on durable, ANSI-certified prescription glasses.

FAQs

Is It Possible To Get Prescription Safety Glasses?

Most safety glasses sold in stores don't come with prescription lenses. If you wish to keep your eyes safe without wearing contacts or going without your prescription, then order prescription safety glasses online. Most frame styles and lens shades can support prescriptions in addition to durable, certified protection.

Are Safety Prescription Glasses Worth It?

Safety lenses are critical to keeping your eyes safe while working in hazardous areas. If your safety glasses don't have prescription lenses, then you'll need to wear your glasses underneath, wear contacts or attempt to work with blurry vision. Safety glasses with prescription lenses are surprisingly affordable, making them a worthwhile investment.

Are Safety Glasses Necessary?

If you aren't prepared for a hazardous project, then you may increase the risk of injury. Safety glasses not only shield your eyes from flying projectiles, but also reduce the impact and offer a shatterproof design. If you're wearing standard glasses or sunglasses and a projectile hits them, they may shatter and cause further injury.

When Should You Wear Safety Glasses?

Wear safety glasses if you're working on a task that involves flying debris or other eye-related hazards. You should also wear them if you're working near such tasks. For example, if someone near you is mowing the lawn, grinding metal parts, cutting boards or performing other tasks that emit debris, it's best to wear certified safety glasses.

What Lenses Do Safety Glasses Have?

Shatter-resistant lenses are typically made of polycarbonate. This durable material is far less likely to shatter, is lightweight and can be coated with a scratch-resistant coating to extend the lifetime of clear views. Polycarbonate can be used for prescription lenses and made into a variety of shapes to fit your chosen frames.