Common Mistakes People Make When Buying Prescription Safety Glasses

There are so many options for safety glasses on the market today, it can be difficult to choose the correct ones for your needs. Finding the perfect pair not only helps provide protection against hazardous situations but they may also enhance your work experience and quality of work. It is crucial to be properly protected in jobs that require it.

To make sure you get the best protection you can, here are four common mistakes to avoid when buying prescription safety glasses.

Not Checking Safety Standards (ANSI Z87.1)

Whether you may be dealing with high velocity debris or exposure to eye-damaging chemicals, you want your safety glasses to be the high quality they can be to protect you. The best way to ensure this is to look for the Z87 (USA) or Z94 (Canada) markings when shopping.

Many forget to do so and end up with less than ideal glasses for their needs. As their name implies, the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) & Canadian Standards Association (CSA) set safety standards for a vast number of products. Both organizations are comprised of industry experts for a given field and in the case of eye/face protection the respective standards are known as ANSI Z87.1 & CSA Z94.3. So be sure to look for safety glasses bearing their markings.

Not Considering the Right Coatings or Technologies

Depending on what you’re working with, it’s important to understand your particular needs. If you spend a majority of your work outside in the sunlight, you may benefit from polarized lenses to reduce blinding glare from reflective surfaces such as water, ice and snow.

However, polarized lenses and photochromatic lenses (light reactive lenses that darken when exposed to UV light) may not be ideal for those who work indoors or with backlit screens since they can reduce visual clarity in these scenarios. Anti-fogging coatings, sprays and wipes are recommended for those who wear tight fitting or wrap safety frames.

Especially, styles that feature rubber gaskets/seals and for those who work in hot & humid environments. Having your glasses fog up while working in a hazardous environment is extremely dangerous.

Not Considering Work Conditions

Each job that requires safety glasses has different conditions, and therefore different safety needs. Not all safety glasses are alike, and therefore it’s crucial to choose ones that fit your specific working needs.

If you’re working with materials that may damage your eyes from multiple angles, it’s best to consider wraparound pairs. If falling debris is of concern consider styles that come with a brow-guard. Chemical hazards are best guarded against with fully sealed safety eyewear such as googles.

Not Being Sure of the Fit

Regardless of the quality of safety glasses in terms of lenses and frames, if a pair does not fit properly, its protective abilities are greatly diminished.

Before ordering a pair, be sure to take the proper facial measurements and compare them with the sizing provided. It’s best to work with an optician who’s familiar with safety glasses who can help you find frames that fit properly. Without a proper fit, they could be liable to slide off, leave gaps or even cause discomfort making you less inclined to wear them.

Make sure they are the right size! Often, if you wear regular prescription glasses, you can reference the sizes marked on your current frames to help get you started.

Find Your Best Pair

If you can avoid these mistakes, you are on the right track to finding the perfect pair of safety glasses for your working needs. Be sure to take your time to consider all of these factors before selecting your best pair. Remember, the better your are protected, the better your work experience and the safer you will be in your work environment.

Now that you know what to look for, check out our selection of prescription safety glasses.

If you have a business that needs help sourcing quality prescription safety eyewear for employees be sure to contact us to find out how we can help you set up a corporate program with package pricing and access to thousands of eye care providers across the country.