Safety glasses are protective eyewear that adheres to specific standards to meet requirements set out to help prevent eye-related injuries.
Whether you work or just simply enjoy outdoor activities, getting the right pair of safety glasses can help reduce the risk of eye damage or illnesses caused by external factors. Safety eyewear can range from innovative designs and lens technology to fit any occasion.
Safety glasses should have durable and heat-resistant frames that comply with safety eyewear regulations. The lenses in safety glasses also stand by specific requirements that have a higher standard compared to regular glasses or sunglasses. Safety glasses should have lenses that have high impact resistance which can have Plano or prescription lenses.
With SmartBuyGlasses you’ll find a range of high-quality protective eyewear at affordable prices for the whole family to enjoy.
Why is it important to wear safety glasses?
According to the CCOHS, thousands of people sustain work-related eye injuries every day. Your eyes can get damaged whether you use digital devices regularly or work with more ‘dangerous’ elements.
The majority of the injuries are preventable but you should still consider the type of eyewear you are using for the type of activity. For example, if you are working on a computer every day you are exposed to harmful glare emitted by the digital device. The glare can cause eye strain, headaches, and mess up your sleeping patterns. That’s why we’d recommend adding zFORT® Blue light blocking to your glasses. Blue light-blocking glasses can help block glare and reduce eye damage.
So when does it become important to wear safety glasses? You can use specific sports glasses to help protect your eyes and vision. For example, ski goggles are a great match to protect your eyes while skiing down cold slopes.
But when it comes to working with hazardous elements you will want to consider wearing appropriate safety glasses for these reasons:
- 1. They help protect your eyes from common and preventable injuries
- 2. If you work with hazardous elements, like debris or chemicals, you can reduce significantly the danger of causing an eye injury
- 3. Visual clarity while working with diverse machines
- 4. You can also get prescription safety glasses like PRO GEAR glasses for sports
- 5. By using the correct safety eyewear you’ll reduce the risk of eye illnesses
If you are curious to learn more about buying prescription safety glasses have a look at our Optical Center article and explore more eye-related care advice.
Do safety glasses have to be OSHA-approved?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets in place rules and guidelines that focus on protecting workers in the workplace. One of the requirements specifies that workers should have appropriate eyewear when eye-related injuries are most likely to happen.
As we mentioned above, when working with hazardous elements it is important to protect your eyes with safety glasses. The particular regulation OSHA 1910.133 means that safety glasses need to be tested and approved for the workplace by meeting certain standards.
So in short, yes, safety glasses should be approved by OSHA regulations. It is important that the glasses in question clearly state whether they are OSHA-approved or not. You may also find that standard protective eyewear has an ANSI rating. The latter assures that the safety glasses meet impact resistance and visual clarity requirements. An example of this is Oakley sunglasses that even professional athletes use for mid to extreme outdoor activities.
How to stop safety glasses from fogging up
There are various reasons as to why our glasses tend to fog up and in our article How to prevent glasses from fogging up, you’ll find everything you need to know.
When it comes to safety glasses you’ll see that the issues and solutions are very similar to those of regular prescription glasses.
The main reasons for your glasses fogging up are:
- 1. Lens coating degrading over time
- 2. Incorrect care of your eyeglasses
- 3. Condensation
If you want to help prevent your glasses from fogging up you can follow some of the steps below:
- • Using anti-fogging solutions (sprays, gels, wipes)
- • Keep your eyewear further away from your face
- • Anti-fog coatings
Anti-fogging solutions or coatings are a good investment when you regularly use safety glasses. Your glasses fogging up can be annoying but also dangerous if you are working with hazardous elements. It is recommended that safety glasses lenses should have a permanent anti-fog coating which you can use in any weather condition.
Find out more about diverse lens coatings that can help not only with fogging up but also protect your glasses and eyes daily.
Where to buy safety glasses
Many eyewear retailers in-store and online will have a range of diverse safety eyewear you can find.
Whether you are looking to buy prescription safety glasses or with non-prescription lenses, remember to check for OHSA and/or ANSI regulations.
With SmartBuyglasses you can find safety glasses and sports sunglasses for work or leisure, to which you can add protective coatings to help enhance your performance. In the Optical Center, you also find a range of information about glasses and sunglasses you can purchase online.
