What You Need to Know About Prescription Safety Glasses

One way to protect your eyesight at work is by wearing safety glasses. According to Prevent Blindness America, more than 700,000 people suffer eye injuries at work each year. Proper eyewear is essential, especially if you work in the construction or oil and gas industry. Protective eyewear prevents nearly 90 percent of all eye-related injuries. Your eyesight is important, which is why we offer prescription safety glasses.

How Do Safety Glasses and Eyeglasses Differ?

Unlike regular eyeglasses, safety glasses must conform to a higher standard of regulations. Both the lenses and frames must meet a higher standard of impact resistance. All safety glasses in Canada must meet the requirements put in place by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. These requirements exist because they help decrease the risk of on-the-job injuries.

How Does the Ordering Process Work?

You will start by visiting our optometrist for an eye test. The optometrist will check your vision to see if you need prescription lenses. During this appointment, our optometrist will also ask you questions about the type of safety glasses that you need. For example, the eye doctor may ask whether you prefer metal frames or plastic frames. You may want to speak with your employer to see what they recommend or require.

We will send your order off so that a professional can manufacture your safety glasses properly. The manufacturer will test the glasses to ensure that they meet every strict safety guideline. This process should take no longer than 10 to 14 days. Once your safety eyewear is ready, you must come in for another appointment so that we can ensure the glasses fit properly.

What Type of Lens Material Do You Use?

There’s a variety of different material that we can use for your prescription safety eyeglasses. When selecting the type of lens you want, you must consider your work environment to ensure the glasses can protect you properly. The safety glasses may need to protect you from splashes of liquid, large dust particles, molten metal or a high-energy impact.

One type of lens material that is used is polycarbonate. This material is the thinnest and lightest option available. The polycarbonate material can block both UVB and UVA rays. A second option is plastic or hard resin lenses. These lenses do not provide UV protection, but a scratch resistant coating can be added.

What Type of Frames are Available?

You can choose between metal frames and plastic frames. The metal frames often feature adjustable nose pads and come in colors like gold, silver, bronze and black. Plastic frames are more of a “sportier design”. Many of the plastic frames feature wide side arms for maximum protection. In addition, they also feature anatomically shaped nose bridges to ensure that the glasses will fit on your face comfortably.

How Do Experts Test the Frames?

The frames undergo a high mass impact test. During this test, an expert will drop a one-inch diameter steel projectile from 50 inches above to ensure the frame holds the lenses. The second test the frames will undergo is a durability test. For example, experts will test the frames to ensure that they are resistant to flames and corrosion. One other test that the frames must pass is a high velocity impact test. During this test, experts will shoot a quarter-inch steel ball at the glasses from different angles to see if they can handle the impact.

What Type of Safety Glasses Will You Need for Your Job?

Some of the most common jobs that require safety eyewear include carpenters, machinists, laborers and plumbers. Every company has their own safety guidelines in place. If you are unsure what glasses to purchase, ask your company’s safety officer for his or her advice. The safety officer should know what kind of protection is necessary for your job duties.

Sometimes, safety glasses do not provide enough protection. For instance, your job may require full-face protection. Your safety officer will consult with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety to determine which eyewear is the most appropriate for your job position. You can also get recommendations from the International Safety Equipment Association. If you work on your own as an independent contractor, you may want to purchase safety glasses that meet the high impact standard.

Your eyesight is important. Workplace accidents occur all the time, so you need to protect yourself. Prescription safety glasses are a worthwhile investment, not only for work, but safety glasses can give you the performance edge you’re seeking for just about any sport or recreational activity. To learn more about safety glasses, contact us to schedule an appointment with our optometrist.