Prescription Safety Glasses: What to Look For

If you need vision correction and work somewhere that requires eye protection, you have three options. Contact lenses under safety glasses, over glasses worn on top of your own frames, or prescription safety glasses made to your script.

The third is generally the right answer, and the reasons are practical rather than promotional.

Why over glasses fail in practice

Safety eyewear worn over prescription glasses is the default on most sites because it costs almost nothing. It also gets taken off constantly.

They sit poorly, they fog, they press on the frame underneath, and the gap between the two lenses collects dust. Peripheral vision is restricted by two sets of frames rather than one. None of this is dangerous in itself, but every one of these makes the wearer more likely to lift them for a moment, and that moment is when injuries happen.

Protective equipment only protects while it is being worn. Comfort is not a luxury consideration here; it is what determines compliance.

What the standard actually requires

In Australia and New Zealand, prescription eye protectors are covered by AS/NZS 1337.6. It is a separate part of the standard from non prescription protectors, and it exists because adding a prescription lens changes the impact performance of the whole assembly.

This is the practical point: a certified frame fitted with an uncertified lens is not a certified protector. The frame, the lens and the fitting all have to comply together, which is why prescription safety eyewear cannot be assembled from a safety frame and an ordinary optical lens.

When buying, ask specifically whether the finished product is certified to the prescription part of the standard rather than whether the frame is rated.

Choosing lenses for the work

Material. Polycarbonate and trivex are the usual choices because of their impact resistance. Standard optical materials are not appropriate regardless of coatings.

Tint. Clear for indoor work, tinted for outdoor, and photochromic where someone moves between the two repeatedly.

Anti fog. Worth specifying rather than assuming, particularly in humid environments, cold stores, or where a mask or respirator is worn.

Prescription type. Progressives work well for most, but the corridor position matters if you spend time looking upward. Someone working overhead is often better served by a task specific single vision lens.

Side protection. Required for most applications, and integrated designs are considerably more comfortable than clip on shields.

What the fitting involves

The measurements differ from ordinary spectacles. Wrap angle, the distance from the lens to the eye, and the pantoscopic tilt all affect both the optics and the protective performance, and safety frames typically wrap more than fashion frames do.

A prescription that is optically correct in a flat frame can produce distortion in a wrapped one if these are not accounted for. This is the most common reason people find their safety glasses uncomfortable and conclude they cannot wear them.

You should also expect a conversation about the hazards you actually face, since impact, chemical splash, dust, molten metal and radiation all have different requirements.

Employer funding

Many employers fund prescription safety eyewear, and a number have arrangements with providers.

It is worth asking your employer before purchasing, as reimbursement often requires a quote or invoice in a particular format. We can supply this.

Where to from here

If you wear glasses and work somewhere that requires eye protection, purpose made prescription safety eyewear is more comfortable, gives better vision, and is far more likely to actually be worn.

At Noranda Optometrist we fit prescription safety eyewear certified to the Australian standard, and we will work through the hazards and lens options relevant to your work. Bring your current prescription or we can update it at the same appointment.