How to Put Side Shields on Prescription Glasses

Side shields, also called safety shields, are pieces of plastic that are usually made from a clear or opaque polycarbonate material and are used on prescription glasses to protect the eyes and face. Shields are available as slip-on, snap-on, clip-on, or permanently affixed. Understanding how to put the safety shields on your glasses will ensure you are wearing them properly.

Things You'll Need

• Frame
• Plastic side shields

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Instructions

• 1

  Grasp the frame by holding the front of the frame in one hand. It is easiest to hold the frame in your less- dominant hand, so if you are right-handed, hold the frame with your left hand. If you are left-handed, hold the frame in your right hand.

• 2

  Slide the slip-on safety shield up the temple, the part of the frame that goes over your ear, threading the end of the temple through the the slit on the safety shield. The temple is threaded through the first slit and then out the second. Slide the shield up the temple all the way to front of the frame.

• 3

  Snap the clip-on or snap-on shields in place by placing the shield next to the extended temple as you hold the frame with your other hand. The shield will have a slight rim or lip along both edges of the inside. Attach to the temple with a snapping motion, forcing the temple into the rim on the back of the shield.

• 4

  Screw a permanently affixed safety shield into the frame by lining up the screw in the side shield with the hole on the frame. Permanent side shields only work with safety frames designed to be matched with this type of safety shield.

• 5

  Make sure you are using the correct safety standard of safety shield. There are different thicknesses and impact resistance in different materials. Most industrial safety shields are labeled with an engraved "Z87.1" or "Z."