Written by Stephanie Yeo
According to Comcare, approximately 50,000 eye injuries are recorded every year in Australia. That’s equivalent to $60 million in damages. More than half of these eye injuries (60%) occur in the workplace.
The eyes are delicate. A seemingly minor eye injury may not be insignificant and can even result in vision impairment. Workers in high-risk industries, including mining and construction, cannot get the protection they require from ordinary eyewear that’s insufficient against projectiles or chemicals at speed. This is where prescription safety glasses help in reducing the risks.
Prescription safety glasses differ from regular eyeglasses as they conform to stricter standards, including lens and frame impact resistance. Safety glasses must comply with specific criteria under the Australian and New Zealand Standards 1337.1 (for occupational applications) and 1337.6 (for low and medium impact protection). The equivalent standards are ANSI Z87. Frames with Z87+ have been tested for high-velocity and high-impact conditions.
The Australian Standard stipulates the minimum requirements to achieve required eye protection. Safety eyewear is designed to safeguard the eyes against occupational hazards, including dust, gases, splashes, fragments, aerosols, and molten materials. Safety glasses that meet the standards underwent rigorous testing to ensure that eye protection is adequate and appropriate.
According to the standards, protective eyewear should comply with these requirements:
Eyeglasses worn at work should use high-impact resistant materials, meaning they must not crack, detach, dislodge, or break even if a weighted ball knocks them over. Material is classified based on the speed of the moving object as follows:
Eyewear material should meet standard requirements for low to medium impact. An exception is applied to untempered (high index) glass, which should not be on protective eyeglasses’ frontmost or rearmost material.
AS/NZS 1337 specifies the minimum lens dimensions of safety eyeglass frames, which are:
Your protective eyewear should have the same optical lenses and properties if you wear prescription glasses.
Safety prescription glasses must have a finish suitable for your work. For example, if your job requires you to wear tinted glasses, your safety glasses must have the same tint. Thermoplastic materials, including polycarbonate, can withstand impact. Lenses, however, can get dislodged from the frame, so they should be held securely without holding the lenses too tightly, which then causes distortion.
Eye protectors should not accumulate moisture, which blurs the lenses. Medium and high-impact eyeglasses, however, may offer limited ventilation.
Safety glasses typically last up to three years. However, they can last longer if they remain usable and safety has not been compromised.
Some workers disregard wearing safety prescription glasses, often complaining that they are uncomfortable and cause headaches. They say the glasses fog up and aren’t fitted properly.
Prescription safety glasses are the same as non-prescription safety eyewear, save for the added specifications to meet individual vision requirements. All prescription eye protectors should contain a label to assure the buyer of compliance. Labels come in different levels of compliance, including Standards Mark, the highest assurance level. This certification tells the buyer the product was supervised and audited by BSI Benchmark, SAI Global, or other compliance authorities.
The right set of lenses is the most important feature in any safety prescription glasses simply because the lenses have your prescription to correct your vision. At the same time, they protect your eyes against impact, UV, and other elements. Make sure to inspect the lenses for:
Your optometrist will help you find the right lens tint that suits your activities. For instance, blue or yellow tints are for improving low-light vision outdoors. Meanwhile, wearing grey, black, or brown tinted lenses shield the eyes from direct sun exposure and reflective surfaces.
Protect your eyes at work, while playing sports, or even when at home with safety glasses. Here are some tips for picking out the best safety prescription glasses:
Of course, your comfort matters, and so does the frame durability, which is crucial for most work environments. The eyeglass frame should fit your face comfortably, with the arm length and width matching your face shape. The eyewear will not fall off even as you move or look down.
Always inspect the lenses to ensure they are uncompromised. Cleaning should be done regularly since dirt and dust can cause scratches and may even result in breakage. Here’s how to clean your safety prescription glasses:
Safety glasses should be replaced every three years. However, sizable scratches, blurry vision, outdated eyewear technologies, prescription changes, and dirty lenses are signs that it’s time for a replacement.
Safety glasses are indispensable for medical professionals who work in hazardous environments and are exposed to dangerous chemicals, intense light, or infectious diseases. Like other professions, healthcare workers require eyewear that provides maximum comfort, especially since they may have long shifts. Some safety glasses are flexible, with adjustable nose bridge and detachable foam gaskets to suit the face shape of the wearer.
Protection against projectiles, vapour, and chemicals in the air is necessary for medical environments. A wider glass frame helps maximise face protection from these external factors. Additionally, the safety glasses should be AS/NZS 1337 approved, which ensures they are effective from unexpected projectiles.
Do you need safety prescription glasses that meet the standards? We have many options here at E Eye Place. Contact us today or book a visit with our optometrists.