How Safety Eyewear Has Changed Over Time

Since its beginning circa 1880, protective safety eyewear has significantly evolved. The patented “eye protector” by P. Johnson uses two layers of semi-opaque cloth to protect those working with fire (i.e., firemen, furnace-men) from the intensity that comes from bright lights. Unfortunately, the “eye protectors” lacked impact resistance, leaving wearers vulnerable to physical hazards.

Today, safety eyewear is worn by those working in industrial and manufacturing industries and even in the office. 

Modern safety eyewear protects against high mass/velocity impacts, glare, chemical splashes, fine dust particles in the air, ultraviolet to infrared & even blue light rays, depending on the lens coating. Advancements in materials have led to the use of lightweight yet durable substances like polycarbonate and Trivex^®, enhancing comfort and protection. 

Additionally, features such as anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings have become standard, improving visibility and extending the lifespan of the eyewear.​

Furthermore, modern safety eyewear of nearly any kind can be fitted with prescription lenses, our specialty at SafeVision by HOYA.

Our business of supporting businesses, both large and small, by establishing a prescription safety eyewear procurement program has evolved over 75 years. However, the history of vision protection and its continued advancement in function, fit, and style options is much older than that. Let’s look at its evolution to show you how far safety eyewear has come.

The Origins of Impact-Resistant Safety Glass

We’ll take you back to 1903 when French scientist Édouard Bénédictus accidentally invented laminated safety glass. 

While climbing a ladder in his laboratory to grab reagents from a shelf, he clumsily knocked a glass flask to the floor and heard it shatter. But when he looked down, the pieces were still hung together due to a cellulose nitrate solution (a type of liquid plastic) lining the inside of the flask.

Shortly after, while reading a story in the Paris newspaper about automobile accidents in which shattered glass windshields seriously injured drivers, he remembered the liquid lining in the flask and decided to experiment.

This experimentation eventually led to the creation of laminated glass, which would become a standard in automobile windshields and influence the development of impact-resistant materials used in modern safety eyewear.

Today’s safety lenses build on this principle, offering high levels of impact protection and optical clarity in work environments where flying debris and collision risks are common. The invention of safety glass marked a turning point in personal protective equipment, laying the foundation for protecting eyes from shatter risk and blunt force.

Milestones in American Safety Eyewear

Around the same time, the United States was advancing in protective eyewear. America’s first optics instructor, Julius King, became increasingly concerned about industrial eye injuries, which led to his company establishing a department focused entirely on industrial safety and eye protection. In 1909, the Julius King Optical Company, in collaboration with American Optical, developed the first industrial safety goggles—SANIGLAS.

By 1914, American Optical began emphasizing the need for prescription lenses in safety goggles, acknowledging that workers with less-than-perfect vision required the same level of protection. This shift led to AO Safety, a dedicated division for prescription eye protection.

In 1935, Furnace Goggles were introduced for “furnace men and forge workers,” offering protection from impact hazards, harmful light, and glare. Specialized Melter’s Goggles were also created for “steel melters,” shielding their eyes from flying scale, intense glare, and sparks—an early example of job-specific protective eyewear design.

By 1940, American Optical formalized the connection between eye health, workplace safety, and visual performance with the publication of the first policy on “The Relationship of Ophthalmic Professions to Industrial Safety and Visual Efficiency.”

At the time, most safety eyewear was designed with bulky, utilitarian frames, prioritizing function over aesthetics. That changed in 1979, when the ANSI standards were updated to allow safety eyewear to take any shape or style, provided it passed high-velocity and high-mass impact testing. This update sparked a wave of innovation, with safety glasses becoming more fashion-forward and comfortable.

This shift from heavy, rigid designs to sleeker, stylish frames made safety eyewear more wearable—encouraging wider adoption in both industrial and non-industrial settings. Workers can select from wraparound, semi-rimless, and sport-inspired styles without sacrificing protection.

Modern Vision Protection

Structural integrity and clear vision have always been central to safety eyewear design, and comfort and style are just as important today. 

At SafeVision, we offer frame options with soft, adjustable nose pads, spring hinges, and various frame shapes and sizes designed to fit a wide range of face types. These features can significantly improve comfort, making prescription safety glasses easier to wear throughout a workday.

When eyewear is uncomfortable, workers are less likely to wear it consistently. Factors like frame pressure, poor fit, or lens distortion can contribute to lapses in protection. 

OSHA tracks workplace eye injury data and recognizes that increased comfort and wearability directly impact compliance with safety protocols—especially in environments with constant hazard exposure.

In recent years, fogging has become a growing issue due to temperature changes, mask use, and tighter-fitting PPE. 

In response, companies like SafeVision have introduced anti-fog lens coatings designed for hot and humid environments, climate-controlled facilities, and high-exertion jobs. These coatings improve visibility and can help reduce downtime and errors. 

Additional solutions like anti-fog sprays and lens wipes offer portable, on-the-go options for managing lens clarity throughout the day.

Protect Your Vision with Safevision

Today’s modern safety eyewear is sophisticated and stylish—it’s also classified as personal protective equipment (PPE) and is considered a medical device when fitted with prescription lenses. 

This makes prescription safety glasses a functional necessity for individuals with vision correction needs and a protective solution for hazardous work environments. Thanks to improvements in design and materials, they now serve as fashionable, all-day-wearable equipment rather than bulky job site accessories.

However, because prescription safety eyewear’s design and ordering process can be complex, many companies struggle to create a streamlined procurement process for their employees.

At SafeVision by HOYA, our roots date back to 1945 through AO Safety. Now operating as a division of HOYA Vision Care, we leverage global expertise in lens technology, coatings, and optical lab services to support organizations across all industries.

We also offer our own line of ANSI-rated, prescription-ready safety frames, allowing us to deliver a flexible, fully funded program tailored to any company size or safety requirement.

Wearing safety eyewear is critical in protecting your vision on the job. 

It can improve visual clarity, reduce eye strain, and support long-term eye health when fitted properly. With so many options available—including anti-fog, blue light filtering, and impact-resistant features—there’s no reason not to invest in high-quality prescription safety glasses.

Whether outfitting a large workforce or buying for yourself, SafeVision is here to help. For companies, our dedicated corporate safety eyewear program is designed to simplify ordering, ensure compliance, and deliver consistent support from start to finish.