If we have to wear glasses anyway?

Safety glasses, at least the ones I wear, are prescription, made from polycarbonate, are shatter proof and nearly break proof, are larger glass area to provide lots of eye protection from angle projectiles, and have very strong frames.

I used to hate working on construction sites that required safety glasses or goggles; they always fogged up and were uncomfortable. Some construction sites will overlook safety glasses if you have plastic lenses, but they don't really protect against glancing blows from chips and stuff. I finally asked my optician about prescription glasses and they were really reasonable (as prescriptins go). I also got a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses with prescription lenses installed. It really helps when you have the right tool for the job. They also make a good spare set if you happen to break your primary pair.

Chris

One other consideration is side shields. Without side shields foreign objects can still get into your eyes. My company requires employees to wear safety glasses with side shields on the plant floor. The company provides safety glasses free of charge. The glasses I have come with snap on side shields. I wear my glasses all the time and just put on or remove the side shields as needed. The best bet is to find and optometrist who carries prescription safety glasses.

If work will pay for safty glasses get your eye doc to add the phototinting len to your perscription. I love mine

For cutting wood I use my regular plastic glasses with the transitions lens ...cause like you I have to see well in order to work safe. However if I'm on the grinding wheel I use safety glasses.

because I needed safety glasses for my last job I purchased perscription safety glasses. The ones I got have thicker lenses and titanium frames with side shields. I currently don't leave the side shields on, but if I did they are OSHA approved safety glasses. I will probably do the same for my next pair. Never hurts to have protection.

When doing anything requiring safety glasses, I put in the contacts and then put on a pair of tight fitting wraparound safety glasses.

I switched over to contact lenses 30 years ago. But I wear sunglasses almost all the time I am outside in daylight. Bright light bothers me, and it is supposed to help prolong the time before I get glaucoma (runs rampant in my family) if I wear sunglasses outside. I have found that I can just put safety goggles on right over my sunglasses. So if that doesn't work with your glasses, get a pair that isn't so large next time, or get prescription safety glasses. Because of my contacts I especially like to avoid getting particulate matter into my eyes (very irritating.) So the safety glasses, although a definite PIA factor, are always worn when we are chainsawing. I usually just go with the sunglasses when I am splitting wood (with a maul) since that doesn't involve a high speed chain or anything like that. The shatterproof nature of the goggles is why they are warn, plus the all encompassing effect. My former boyfriend got a metal sliver in his eye once, and let me tell you, that helps me remember to always wear goggles when using power tools.

As a couple of others have mentioned, the ultimate, best bet in safety glasses is a pair of OSHA grade specs, with side shields. Technically this is the only compliant setup if you are required to wear safety glasses by OSHA on your job... These glasses have a stronger, heavier frame, and thicker polycarbonate lenses - trouble is they are comparatively heavy, thus some folks find them uncomfortable. They are also somewhat expensive compared to the low-budget specs from Lens-Crapters, etc - but not that bad compared to the higher grade frames. Some might also complain that they are "unfashionable" - but so are dogs and canes...

My approach is for most part is a pair of conventional "aviator" style frames with big lenses, no side shields, which I wear ALL the time as my normal seeing glasses - this will stop most stuff where chips are possible but not expected, without the weight, etc. penalties of full on safety glasses.

If I'm doing stuff that I expect to be generating lots of chips or other flying debris, I add either a face screen, or a plastic full face shield depending on what I'm expecting to show up - either approach does pretty well at protecting my entire face (not just my eyes).

Note that the three way logging helmet (hard-hat, earmuff, and face screen) is not just a good idea, it is an OSHA requirement for anyone using a chainsaw professionally... While I'm no fan of gov't mandates (to put it mildly), I think it's a good recomendation from a safety standpoint.

Gooserider

i wear glasses but never safety glasses.

EatenByLimestone said:

How about a screen? I was at the dealer on Saturday and they had helmets with screens attached. You may be able to wear your normal glasses under them.

Matt

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I like wearing the screens, but as someone on another site stated, make sure you lift the lid before spitting. I HATE stuff in my eyes, to the point I act like a two year old if I get something in the eye and would like to avoid that. I'm thinking about picking up another bucket hat and wearing a set of bugz eyes under them.
Anyone use these?
Chad

HI,

I have glasses (all the time) and I wear a Stihl euro helmet with the screen. No safety glasses. Works well.

CarpNiels

CT-Mike said:

When doing anything requiring safety glasses, I put in the contacts and then put on a pair of tight fitting wraparound safety glasses.

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I love those little wrap around dudes. They also seem to be the cheapest at about $3 bucks a pair. I can't handle anything that fogs up. To me that is just too much to be useful. I think I got mine at the local welders supply. Shields I can only stand if I am grinding into a bigass piece of steel and just standing there.

I wear glasses and only like wearing the helmet with a screen. I have yet to get a chip in the eye when I am wearing the screen. Without it I have had several issues with chips getting in the eyes. www.labonville.com has a good inexpensive one I own.
-Mike

I have a Stihl helmet with the screen and earmuffs built in. I love it. I learned the spit issue the hard way... a couple of times.

Same here -- helmet with earprotectors and screen. The screen is great because it never fogs up.