Wearing prescription safety eyeglasses is the best way to protect your eyes against eye hazards. Did you know that hundreds of thousands of American workers suffer eye injuries each year? Ninety percent of these eye injuries can be prevented by wearing the right safety eyeglasses. If you are a construction worker, or if you work in the oil and gas industry, then you need the right eye protection to protect your eyes. Since a person’s eyesight is their most important asset, it makes sense to do everything in your power to protect your vision. The right safety eyewear can help you do just that.
Prescription glasses won’t protect your eyes
If you are thinking that you can protect your eyes by wearing regular prescription eyeglasses, you are wrong. Regular eyeglasses are not like safety glasses in that they do not conform to higher safety standards. Their frames and lenses are not built or designed to protect your eyes. On the other hand, safety eyewear consists of frames and lenses that meet a much higher standard of impact resistance. In the US, all safety eyewear must adhere to OSHA regulations and ANSI standards. These requirements have been put in place because they help to reduce the risk of job-related eye injuries.
Get your latest prescription
Before choosing your safety eyewear, you must visit your optometrist to undergo an eye exam. This exam may not be required if you possess the latest and updated copy of your prescription. If you do not, then you need to undergo an eye examination to determine what amount of magnification is required to correct your vision. You also need your PD measurement which the optometrist can provide to you.
Choose the best frames
The next thing that you need to do is choose the best frames. You have two main options which are either plastic frames or metal frames. Polycarbonate frames are a special type as they are made from a special plastic that is known to be very robust and which is almost unbreakable. Metal frames are a good option because they can be fitted with adjustable nose pads and they are available in many colours. Plastic frames are sportier and feature wide sidearms for maximum protection.
Frames must be impact resistant
The frames that you choose must have been tested for impact resistance. The tests involve an inch-in-diameter ball being dropped from fifty inches onto the frame. If the frame holds without breaking or becoming damaged, then it will pass the test and is fit for use. Another test that has to be performed on safety frames is that of durability. In this test, the frames have to be tested to ensure that they can resist flames as well as not corrode. A third test may also be done on the frames. This is the high-velocity test in which a 1/4inch steel ball is shot at the frames to see if it holds and can handle the impact. If it does, then it passes the test. Otherwise, it will fail the test and not be suitable for use.
Choose the best lens materials
After selecting your frames, you should choose the best lens materials. There are many options available to you but you should stick with polycarbonate lenses because they are not only virtually shatterproof but they are light and long-lasting. They also provide almost total protection from UV rays. For longer-lasting use, you should think about adding anti-scratch coating to the lenses.
There are many jobs that require you to wear safe eyeglasses. If you are a carpenter or machinist or labourer or plumber, then you need to protect your eyes with the right safety eyewear. Your company may also have safety guidelines that will help to keep you protected. If you are not sure about what are the best safety eyeglasses, then you should speak with your company’s safety office to get their advice.
There are also instances when your safety eyeglasses won’t be able to provide total protection for your eyes. This is the case when you need full-face protection. In this case, you need to determine what kind of safety eyewear is right for your needs.
It is also a good idea to learn about the differences between safety eyewear and regular eyewear. The lenses of safety eyeglasses are much more capable of protecting your eyes as they conform to higher standards of safety as compared with regular eyeglasses which do not conform to any real safety standards. Thus, it pays to ensure that you are only wearing lenses that bear the ANSI safety mark.
What are the best prescription safety eyeglasses?
If you are working in dangerous environments, then you need to choose your safety glasses very carefully. Before you choose your safety eyewear, you need to look at your behaviour and your health needs. The eyewear that best protects you is the one that addresses both these issues. Furthermore, they should bear the ANSI stamp to show that they have been tested and have passed the strictest safety standards tests.
Should I wear prescription safety eyeglasses with foam gaskets?
If you need to shield your eyes from airborne debris or if you need to protect your eyes against windburn or chemicals, then you should choose safety eyewear with foam gaskets. These eyewear items offer unparalleled protection and are certainly worth investing in.
How can prescription safety eyeglasses be so cheap when I buy them online?
Sometimes, you won’t be able to believe your eyes when you see the low prices of such eyewear items at a good online store. Part of the reason why these eyewear items are available at such low prices is that online sellers are competing with each other for your business. They are therefore ready to offer you a lower price to get your business.
The bottom line is that you need to invest in prescription safety glasses that are safe and durable as well as of high quality. If your budget does not allow you to spend a lot of money on such eyewear, then it makes sense for you to check out GlassesCanada.com. This site has been around for a long time and during all this time it has built up a reputation for selling quality eyewear at low prices. So, be sure to visit their website to learn exactly why you are going to benefit by buying their eyewear products including safety eyeglasses.
