Rx Safety Eyewear

Safety eyewear is one of the cheapest forms of insurance for our bodies, and they protect one of the most important things we own - our eyesight. Fortunately for those of us that need to wear RX glasses to correct our vision, we still have a great range of options for safety glasses. You can purchase RX safety eyewear in a range of styles, colors, lenses and frames, so there are sure to be a pair that suit you and your needs.

RX safety eyewear must adhere to the same standards as set by the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) as all other non-prescription safety eyewear. Ensure that whatever RX safety eyewear you purchase has a Z87 or Z87+ marking on the lenses - as this indicates that they have been approved as either basic impact or high impact protection rating, respectively.

Basic impact safety eyewear are tested by dropping a 1 inch diameter steel ball onto the lenses from a height of 10 feet. Only if the lenses do not crack, chip or break will they be given a basic impact safety rating (Z87). High impact safety eyewear are tested by shooting a ¼ inch diameter steel ball at both the lenses and frames (as one unit) and if they don't crack, chip or break, nor do the lenses come away from the frames will they be given a high impact safety rating (Z87+).

 

 

The majority of modern RX safety eyewear have lenses made from polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a lot lighter and more shatter-resistant than other materials that were commonly used such as glass and other types of glasses. The only downside to polycarbonate is that the lenses can scratch a lot more easily than other materials, so it is advised that you purchase RX safety glasses that have an anti-scratch hard coating on the lenses, or request that you have one put on. Also to help prolong the life of your new RX safety eyewear, you should consider purchasing a restrainer strap for your glasses so that you can let them dangle round your neck when they're not in use instead of risking dropping, losing or scratching them.

Many people require safety glasses, and there are more purposes than you may have first thought. The majority of wearers are those that work in hazardous conditions, such as carpenters, plumbers, factory workers etc. In fact, the majority of eye injuries occur in construction workers. However, safety eyewear is essential for every day and leisure activities too. Mowing the lawn and doing odd jobs around the house can pose a hazard to your eyes, as well as most sporting and leisure activities such as running, cycling, shooting and fishing. Motorcycle riders are also very susceptible to eye injuries from flying debris from the road as well as bugs. Luckily there are RX safety eyewear designed for every single one of these different activities, each with different functions to suit the various needs.

RX safety eyewear are also a lot more fashionable and stylish than they used to be, in fact you can hardly tell the difference between modern safety eyewear to non-safety eyewear. Often they are also a lot less expensive as well - so it's a win-win situation!

 

* AO SUNGLASSES are NOT ANSI Z87.1-2003 safety glasses

 

When choosing to purchase RX safety eyewear, you must first visit your eye care practitioner or optician to get an up-to-date prescription. Even if you already wear RX glasses it is advised to get a new prescription done regularly as your eyes can change over time. Once you have your prescription you can either purchase your RX safety eyewear from your optician or choose to purchase online. If purchasing online you must ensure the website is certified to sell RX safety eyewear and that they have an eye doctor there to validate the prescriptions.

There are a huge range of brands offering RX safety eyewear, each with different styles, frames and benefits. It is recommended that you look at a few different brands and styles before settling on one to ensure you find the perfect pair of RX safety eyewear to suit your needs and taste.

Some of the most popular brands of RX safety eyewear include: Wiley X, Pyramex, AO Safety and Bobster.