Safety lenses now have two classifications of performance: basic impact and high impact. (Previously, all prescription safety lenses had to have a minimum thickness of 3 mm, making them significantly thicker and heavier than regular eyeglass lenses.) Thinner prescription safety lenses are now allowed, if they meet the high impact testing requirements. Non-prescription lenses used for high impact testing are considered to be structurally weaker than prescription lenses made of the same material the prescription lenses are generally thicker. 'Tis the Season for Eye Health - No Matter What the Season Infographic: 8 Tips for Healthy Eyes This Year For the high impact classification, the frame and lenses are tested together as a unit. Updated ANSI safety eyewear standards include the following key features:įor the basic impact tests, lenses are tested separately (not mounted in a frame). The ANSI standard applying to eye safety includes several types of eye protection devices, including eyeglasses (both prescription and non-prescription), goggles, face shields, welding helmets and full-face respirators. Institute (ANSI), a private, non-profit organization that creates quality and safety standards for a wide variety of products. OSHA has adopted safety eyewear standards established by the American National Standards Department of Labor oversees safety practices in the workplace and in educational settings. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within the U.S. In the United States, the federal government establishes safety guidelines for workplaces, to decrease the risk of on-the-job injuries. Regardless of their size or the durability of the frame and lenses, regular prescription eyeglasses do not qualify as safety glasses unless they meet specific criteria. There are two kinds of safety glasses: prescription safety glasses and non-prescription (also called "plano" safety glasses.
Safety eyewear must conform to a higher standard of impact resistance than regular eyeglasses, which optical professionals sometimes call "dress eyewear." This higher standard applies to both the lenses and the frames of safety glasses and goggles. How do safety glasses and goggles differ from regular eyeglasses? More than 40,000 American children and adults suffer eye injuries during sports, while many thousands more eye injuries go unreported.īecause experts say proper protective eyewear could prevent up to 90 percent of all eye injuries, you might want to learn more about the safety glasses and goggles that suit your lifestyle best. Why risk losing precious eyesight when wearing safety glasses or protective goggles can keep your eyes safe for a lifetime of good vision?Īccording to Prevent Blindness America, each year more than 700,000 Americans injure their eyes at work, and another 125,000 injure their eyes at home.