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Scott wrote:
I have myopia and wear my single vision glasses 'morning to night' to enhance my vision. Part of my employment has me working in industrial settings where protective eyewear is required. In these instances I have resorted to using OTG (Over the glasses) safety eyewear but find them to be bulky and uncomfortable overtop of my regular eyewear. I have looked at prescription safety eyewear but have not purchased a pair because of their cost and my concerns over their durability in the workplace. On a side-note, I generally go through 4-8 pairs of OTG safety eyeglasses in a given year due to scratches rendering them unusable. So, I was wondering if "Reader Safety Glasses" might be a cost-effective solution to my quandary. I see them advertised by safety product suppliers but am not clear on what and/or who they are for. Please advise.
Canadian Association of Optometrists's response:
Hi Scott, and thank you for your question.
While so-called “drug store” readers have been available for some time, they are a fairly recent addition to the safety glasses catalogue.
Readers are designed to provide simple magnification to those of us that require extra help seeing up close. This usually occurs as we age, with the onset of a condition known as Presbyopia. Readers do provide a cost effective solution to a very common problem, however unless you have perfect vision otherwise, they do have limitations.
These types of lenses can only provide equal magnification for both eyes, and do not correct for common vision problems, such as astigmatism. Most potential users experience some form of refractive error that cannot be addressed by this type of correction.
Another concern is that these lenses are “self prescribed”, and may help mask an underlying undiagnosed condition that is the cause of the vision problem. Always consult your eye care professional before choosing any type of corrective eyewear.
I agree that OTG glasses are a poor choice, but I would contend that prescription safety glasses are a great investment in terms of comfort, visual performance and, most importantly, protection. The application of a premium scratch coating on the lens, along with proper care and cleaning, will give them durability in all but the harshest environments.
Your employer may have a program in place to help with the cost.
When choosing safety glasses or any other type of personal protection equipment, always look for the appropriate safety certification mark, either from the Canadian Standards Association, or from the American National Standards Institute.
Doug Dean
Director, Occupational Vision Plan
Canadian Association of Optometrists
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Re: Problems Wearing Safety Glasses
Kornelia wrote:
I work in a manufacturing environment where all employees are required to wear safety glasses at all times. One of my employees is prone to migraine headaches and swears that seeing through any type of eye wear (plastic or glass safety glasses, sun glasses, etc) leads to a migraine. Do you have any suggestions for eye protection to keep this individual safe?
Canadian Association of Optometrists's response:
This could be someone with a legitimate complaint, possibly a sinus condition that is triggered by the weight of the glasses on their nose, that they assume is migraine. There are all kinds of issues like this in Health and Safety, that at first glance seem frivolous, but end up creating huge problems for employers. I would respond by urging the employee to have a thorough examination by whatever specialty applies. Not wearing appropriate eye protection is not an option! CAO Staff
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Re: Eyestrain from Safety Glasses
Craig Macdonald wrote:
When I wear safety glasses for prolonged periods, I get headaches and my eyes feel like they are going to pop out of my head. I don't wear glasses or contacts. Can the experience of looking through plastic lenses be the cause? If so, can I be putting myself at risk of having to wear glasses in the future by straining my eyes?
Canadian Association of Optometrists's response:
Hi Craig, Visual fatigue or eye strain is not uncommon when wearing non prescription “off the shelf” products of this type. The optical quality of many of these products is poor, and is probably the cause of the your discomfort. It is unlikely that you will do permanent damage or suffer any long term effects from wearing these protective glasses but my advice would be to try a few different brands/styles of glasses and try and determine if one is better than another.
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