Safety glasses are worn by those working in or visiting environments that require protection for their eyes or eyesight. Prescription safety glasses specifically are safety glasses which are fitted with corrective lenses in addition to the basic safety features of these glasses. Some of the common environments which require prescription safety glasses to be worn include construction sites, factories or laboratories.

Places Needing Prescription Safety Eyeglasses

In construction sites, safety glasses are usually worn by welders who require their eyes to be protected by the intense glare of the welding lights. During the welding process, high concentration of ultra-violet (UV) or infra-red (IV) radiation may be emitted. Without the use of proper prescription safety eyewear, the welder may be at risk of developing conditions like snow blindness or welder’s flash. Therefore, these safety glasses are appropriately equipped with tinted or shaded lenses that comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines. Different working environments will require different protective shade levels, in order to suit the levels of light exposure to the eyes. These prescription safety glasses may also be impact resistant and come with side shields or wraparound safety glasses to protect the wearer’s eyes against flying debris.

Over in factories and laboratories, workers are exposed daily to a myriad of occupational hazards that also require prescription safety glasses to be used. These would include chemical exposure, laser light, radioactive materials, furnace and molten heat sparks, as well as dust and flying particles. Here, different types of prescription safety glasses are used according to the type of hazard exposure. In general there are 6 classes of safety eyewear ranging from spectacles and goggles to hoods and face shields. Each of these classes may be made from different combinations of lens material and frame designs, with lenses being manufactured using polycarbonate, plastic or glass materials.

Proper Use and Maintenance of Prescription Safety Eyewear

In order to maintain the full functionality of prescription safety eyeglasses, wearers will need to ensure that their glasses fit properly over the nose bridge, ear and temple areas when selecting a frame. Additionally, the frame should be as close to the face as possible and adequately supported by the bridge of the nose. Also, prescription safety glasses need to be cleaned regularly by adhering to cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer. Scratches on the lenses should be prevented as they can affect the vision of the wearer as well as weaken the lenses. With this, prescription safety glasses should be handled carefully and stored in an eyeglass case when they are not in use. Finally, prescription safety glasses should only be repaired using parts from the original manufacturers to ensure that they continue to function according to the original safety standards intended.