How To Select The Right Safety Eyewear Program For Your Company

If your employees need prescription safety glasses, a well-structured safety eyewear program is essential. How do you choose the right one?

The right program is more than just issuing glasses; it’s about streamlining compliance, ensuring proper fit and prescription accuracy, and supporting long-term safety outcomes.

Here is a brief outline of key factors to help you select a safety eyewear program that fits your company’s needs.

ASSESS YOUR WORKPLACE HAZARDS

Before selecting a safety eyewear provider, assess the specific hazards present in your work environment. Are employees exposed to flying debris, chemical splashes, intense light, or dust? The nature of these risks will determine not only the lens material but also the level of coverage and additional features like anti-fog coatings or UV filters.

Your hazard assessment should guide your eyewear choices from the start, not after injuries occur.

ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF PRESCRIPTION WEARERS

One of the most common issues in workplace safety is employees improvising, wearing standard goggles over their personal glasses or opting out of protection entirely. Both are unsafe.

Prescription safety glasses eliminate this problem by integrating vision correction into ANSI Z87.1-rated protective frames. When selecting a program, make sure it offers:

• A variety of lens types (single vision, bifocal, progressive)
• Durable, impact-resistant lens materials (e.g., polycarbonate or Trivex)
• Frame styles that are both compliant and comfortable for all-day wear

SIMPLIFY PROCUREMENT WITH THE RIGHT VENDOR

A good program doesn’t just protect workers, it makes life easier for your team, too. Look for a provider that offers a streamlined ordering and approval process. Digital portals, eligibility tracking, and consolidated invoicing can save your team hours of manual work each month.

The best programs include:

• Configurable company benefit plans
• Real-time order tracking
• Flexible approval workflows
• Eyecare provider services such as a referral network, on-site optician, virtual optician, etc.

If your current solution requires email chains or paper forms to manage orders, it’s time for an upgrade.

KEEP PRESCRIPTIONS ACCURATE

A prescription from two years ago may no longer reflect an employee’s current vision needs. An overlooked aspect of many eyewear programs is how they handle outdated prescriptions.

Vendors that support or partner with vision care providers can help employees stay current, improving not just comfort but also safety on the job. If regular eye exams aren’t built into your company’s benefits, consider how your eyewear provider might help bridge that gap.

DON’T OVERLOOK LOGISTICS: TURNAROUND AND REPLACEMENTS

How quickly will your employees receive their glasses? And what happens if a pair is lost or damaged?

These are more than logistical questions, they impact compliance and productivity. Long delays or complicated replacement policies often lead to workers going without protection in the interim.

Choose a provider that communicates clearly about:

• Typical production and shipping timelines
• Return and warranty policies
• Fast replacement options in urgent cases

TRAINING AND EMPLOYEE ADOPTION

Even the most protective eyewear won’t help if it sits in a drawer. Make sure employees understand when and how to wear their glasses, and why it matters.

Provide basic training on:

• Proper cleaning and care
• Storage and handling
• How to report damage or request replacements

Some vendors include training support or printed materials with each order, making it easy to reinforce these habits.

CONSIDER THE FULL ROI AND NOT JUST THE PRICE TAG

While upfront cost matters, it’s only part of the equation. A quality safety eyewear program reduces injuries, boosts compliance, and cuts down on reorders and downtime. All of that adds up to long-term savings.

If budget is a concern, ask vendors about scalable plans or shared-cost models. Many programs allow employees to upgrade frames at their own expense while still receiving essential protection under the company benefit.

NEXT STEPS FOR SAFER WORKPLACES

Selecting a prescription safety eyewear program requires more than checking a compliance box. You’re making a decision that impacts worker safety, efficiency, and satisfaction.

A successful program should be easy to manage, customized to your work environment, and built around the real needs of your employees.

SafeVision offers flexible corporate plans, extensive prescription frame options, and a self-service portal that keeps everything running smoothly so you can focus on safety, not paperwork. Contact us to get started. 

FAQ