Difference between revisions of "Full Magnifying Safety Glasses"

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1) Prescription glass safety glasses which are ANSI compliant and have sideshields
1) Prescription glass safety glasses which are ANSI compliant and have sideshields


2) Bi-focal polycarbonate safety glasses. Also known as "readers". These must be either of wrap-around design or have sideshields.
2) Bi-focal polycarbonate safety glasses. These are the ones which have a little lens cut into the bottom, giving you prescription magnification. Also known as "readers". These must be either of wrap-around design or have sideshields.


3) Full
3) Full Magnifying Reader Safety Glasses. With these glasses, what you essentially have is the whole lens having one prescription, similar to "drug-store" plastic (acrylic) reading glasses.
 
 
Examples of Bi-Focal magnifying safety glasses include:
Direct Safety® Dakota Readers Safety Glasses
Crews BearKat® Magnifier Safety Glasses
3M™ Nuvo Reader Safety Glasses
Pyramex V2 Readers
Jackson Safety® Safari 3006 Readers Safety Glasses: Black Frame, 1.5 Diopter Clear Lens
3M® Virtua
3M BX Reader
 
For these, I recommend a reseller such as [http://www.conney.com Conney Safety]

Revision as of 21:08, 23 July 2012

This page will describe an alternative to getting safety glasses thru an optician.

In most cases, if you need to wear both safety glasses and prescription glasses, your employer will be able to pay for the cost of eye exam, frames, and prescription lenses. This is usually done thru an optician, either on-site or off-site at his office.


If your employer does not offer this option, or you are purchasing safety glasses for yourself, this page will explain the process.


First, some definitions.

Safety glasses are in most cases made of polycarbonate. While lightweight and cheap, polycarbonate will interfere with your vision because of its distortion, and will cause eye strain. If wearing polycarbonate (store bought, disposable company safety glasses, etc) causes severe eye discomfort, you must immediately talk to an optician.

An optician does not deal with disposable mass-produced safety glasses. An optician gives you an eye exam first, which determines whether you need prescription eyewear, what kind of prescription you need, whether you have astigmatism, what is the distance between your eyes, etc.

You are then given a choice for a frame.

Based upon your selection of a frame, lenses are ordered from a lab. These lenses are usually made of glass, and are of very good optical quality (no distortion).

Going thru an optician will cost you time and money, however. The frame is purchased separately, and $100 is a minimum cost. Lenses may add $200 more. And an eye exam is a typical $75. If you do not have a vision insurance (check - this can be covered under either medical, dental, or dedicated vision insurance coverages and plans). Therefore, this can add up to a large sum of money if you pay out of pocket.


Some myths:

M1 - Safety glasses can only be made of polycarbonate. Not true. Trivex can be used, or a thick enough glass lens can be used as well. In most cases, if you just place sideshields over prescription eyewear it will be equivalent to safety glasses, if the eyewear itself was already compliant with relevant ANSI specification.

M2 - I will need to wear two sets of eyeglasses - one prescription and one safety glasses. Not true. There are several options of combining the two kinds of glasses, as the rest of the article will explain.

M3 - Polycarbonate safety glasses are best safety glasses available. Not true. Polycarbonate safety glasses are the cheapest and lightest, but are the worst for the eyes. They scratch easily, and have lots of optical distortion.


Choosing the type of prescription of magnifying safety glasses:

There are at least three possibilities available:

1) Prescription glass safety glasses which are ANSI compliant and have sideshields

2) Bi-focal polycarbonate safety glasses. These are the ones which have a little lens cut into the bottom, giving you prescription magnification. Also known as "readers". These must be either of wrap-around design or have sideshields.

3) Full Magnifying Reader Safety Glasses. With these glasses, what you essentially have is the whole lens having one prescription, similar to "drug-store" plastic (acrylic) reading glasses.


Examples of Bi-Focal magnifying safety glasses include: Direct Safety® Dakota Readers Safety Glasses Crews BearKat® Magnifier Safety Glasses 3M™ Nuvo Reader Safety Glasses Pyramex V2 Readers Jackson Safety® Safari 3006 Readers Safety Glasses: Black Frame, 1.5 Diopter Clear Lens 3M® Virtua 3M BX Reader

For these, I recommend a reseller such as Conney Safety