Benefits of Wearing Goggles

Goggles that seal tightly around the eyes offer the best protection for the wearer. Safety glasses (glasses with clear, non-corrective lenses) are often used as eye protection, particularly in laboratories by those handling chemicals. However, they provide considerably less protection than goggles, especially for splashes caused by others to one side of the wearer that can throw harmful chemicals into the eye behind the glasses.

Protection from Particulate Matter

• Careers in construction, carpentry, metalwork, or anything else in which particulate matter can be thrown into a worker's eyes, require the use of goggles to protect the eyes. The eyes are delicate, and particles such as dust, wood, metal, or powdered cement can cause temporary or even permanent damage to the eyes, such as scratched lenses, corneal erosion (a wearing away of the outermost layer of the eye), or even puncture of the eye, resulting in blindness. Hammering of metal or masonry can cause small particles to fly into the eye; welding can result in tiny bits of molten metal or slag flung into the air, as well as intense ultraviolet radiation and visible light exposure that may blind.

Protection from Chemicals

• Anyone working with harmful liquid or powdered chemicals should wear goggles to prevent eye damage due to splashing of caustic liquids or chemical burns caused by exposure to powdered caustic materials such as cement containing lime, which is highly alkaline and just as scathing as a strong acid.

Prevent Chlorine Sting While Swimming

• Overly chlorinated public pool water can sting unprotected eyes.

  One of the most common uses of goggles is by those swimming in chlorinated pools. Too much chlorine can cause painful stinging in the eyes; most public pools are required to use high doses of chlorine to sanitize the water for public safety. However, for those swimming in private pools that are not overly chlorinated, or who swim in a river, lake, or the ocean, goggles offer little benefit and can obstruct the wearer's peripheral vision. Whether swimming in a public pool or in non-chlorinated water, the most noted benefit of goggles is for those who require corrective lenses; prescription goggles are available, but they can be expensive.

Prevention of Drying of the Eyes

• Dry eyes can lead to blurred or otherwise impaired vision. Half-shell motorcycle helmets (also called beanie helmets) do not include a face shield; therefore, the wearer needs some kind of eye protection. Glasses or sunglasses provide some protection from the wind generated by riding a motorcycle, but not nearly as much as goggles. In addition to keeping the eyes from drying out, goggles also protect from dust, flying insects, and road debris kicked up by other vehicles.