Kinds of Safety Goggles

The proper use of safety goggles could help prevent the nearly 2000 eye injuries per day in the United States. According to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), some 100 of these daily injuries will result in time lost from work. These are huge numbers that can have devastating effects on the lives and families of those injured.

Prescription / Non-Prescription

• Safety goggles can be made with prescription lenses to accommodate individual needs. This allows the person to be protected while enjoying the convenience of corrected vision.

Glass Lenses

• Glass lenses can be heavy and a bit cumbersome, but they are also harder to scratch and can be used in areas where chemicals are present. Glass lenses can also be prone to fogging, so caution is advised.

Plastic Lenses

• Plastic lenses are more lightweight, less likely to fog up and can be used to protect the wearer against welding splatter. However, plastic lenses scratch much more easily than do glass lenses.

Polycarbonate Lenses

• The polycarbonate lenses are extremely lightweight, less likely to fog and far more impact resistant than either glass or plastic lenses. Polycarbonate lenses scratch much more easily than glass lenses.

Side Protection

• Safety goggles fit around the face and enclose the eyes. Some will have holes or ventilation slots on the side areas to allow for air movement. These types of goggles cannot be worn in all areas, as complete enclosure sometimes is desired. This may include areas where chemicals are used as well as certain health care fields.