Prescription Safety Glasses

Best Prescription Safety Glasses

Clear vision is crucial for safety. Prescription safety glasses combine durable physical eye protection with precise vision correction. Start by selecting a pair of frames that are rated for conditions on a work site or in any other environment in which you need to see clearly while protecting your eyes.

Correct Vision for Safety

Whether you work under hazardous conditions or play impact sports, your eyes must remain protected while your vision is corrected. Prescription safety eyewear combines the benefits of clearer vision with impact resistance and many other protective features. Narrow down the available options by making sure that the diopters of prescription lenses are compatible with the frame style. Most frames are also available with single vision, bifocal or progressive (no line) lenses.

High RX prescriptions with a cylinder measurement exceeding +/- 2.50 or a sphere exceeding +/- 5.0 may not be suitable for wraparound frames. The shape of these frames can distort vision. Some glasses styles are available with a prescription rim system to accommodate diopters that exceed +/- 3.5 degrees. Most lenses are available with standard or Digital HD surfacing.

Durable Eye Protection

The most durable frames are made of plastic or metal and have shatterproof lenses. The American National Standards Institute and other regulatory bodies perform rigorous testing of eyewear and assign safety ratings. Glasses with the ANSI Z87 rating have passed a basic impact test in which a steel ball with a one-inch diameter is dropped on a lens from a height of 50 inches. The Z87+ rating indicates that eyewear mounted on a head form has passed high mass and velocity testing.

In the past, the lenses in Z87 prescription safety glasses were required to be at least 3 millimeters thick. Thinner and lighter prescription lenses that pass impact testing are now permitted. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and international standards organizations also maintain safety ratings for eyewear.

ANSI Prescription Safety Glasses

The American National Standards Institute approves requirements for safety glasses and other personal protective equipment. ANSI prescription safety glasses are tested for durability in the event of an impact and may be rated to prevent other risks. The Z87.1 standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices applies to corrective safety eyewear.

Eye Protection Ratings

ANSI assigns eyewear safety ratings based on performance during testing. Prescription safety glasses that withstand impact from a steel ball one inch in diameter that weighs approximately 2.4 ounces falling from a height of 50 inches satisfy requirements for the Z87 standard. Any applicable standards are indicated in markings on the frames and lenses of safety eyewear.

Safety glasses that have a Z87+ rating have undergone and passed high mass and high-velocity tests. A high mass test involves dropping a pointed weight that is slightly over one pound on glasses mounted on a head form from a height of about 50 inches. A steel ball that measures a quarter-inch in diameter is shot at 20 impact points on eyewear at over 100 miles per hour during high-velocity testing.

Stylish Safety Glasses

The primary purpose of safety glasses is eye protection, but these frames and lenses can also be flattering. Frame materials range from plastic to metal and a large selection of shapes and colors is available. Choose from many styles when selecting ANSI prescription safety glasses that are compatible with the necessary lens diopters and protection standards.

Shop Z87 frames and lenses from brands such as 3M, Hudson Optical, Global Vision, OnGuard and Uvex. When considering frames, check the measurements to achieve the best fit and clearest vision. Wraparound frames may not be the best option for strong prescriptions, as the profile of these glasses can cause distortion. Many frame shapes are available, and are designed with features such as side shields that can block lateral impact hazards.