(UK) Which Prescription Safety Glasses

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(UK) Which Prescription Safety Glasses

This topic has 21 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 5 October 2014 at 02:20 by Muzzer.

Viewing 22 posts - 1 through 22 (of 22 total)

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3 October 2014 at 14:37 #23530
Russ B
Participant
@russb
presumably EN166 – but is there more to it?
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3 October 2014 at 14:37 #165474
Russ B
Participant
@russb
Hi,

I need to order some prescription safety glasses, I see SpecSavers are quoting that all theirs conform to EN 166, but is there more to it than that?

I know different work places may have very different approaches to safety so I think I might be asking a difficult question.

My employer will be able to offer support to purchase these, but I've been asked to check what is required as they recall some people require 2 coupons or even 3, and other only one.

Is this just an additional voucher for those preferring split or varifocal lenses as opposed to those who only require plain – or are there different levels of safety required for different work?

I will be using these at University on a whole range of tool room equipment (mills, grinders, lathes, etc) as well as similar tasks at work and home.

On the topic of varifocals or plain, would it be best to seek advice from my optician or would anyone here care to offer advice and guidance (I'm short sighted, I've never used split lenses or varifocals but often take my glasses off for short work (1 metre being about the limit of my sharp focus, ie, I can see my lathe work, but my tools over on the bench are fuzzy till I walk up to them)

Edited By Russ B on 03/10/2014 14:43:33
3 October 2014 at 15:00 #165475
Russ B
Participant
@russb
I think they could be referring to the different lenses (plastic, polycarbonate., or toughened glass).

I know the sealed goggle type offer the best protection but I'm hoping I can get away with something more comfortable for lathe work?
3 October 2014 at 15:07 #165477
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
Once you have sorted out the spec for 'Safety', I find that varifocals are OK most of the time, but if you do woodwork, then anything longer than 2 foot looks like a banana – even straight edges ! I am told this is due to only a small area of the lense being for close up and that if you pay more, it can be bought larger (wider).

I prefer glass as plastic scratches so easily, but does this go hand in hand for safety? I do have fixed focus safety glasses (£ 30) for grinding etc. However I have a 'glasses' drawer with all sorts in there, some for spraying, some for wood work etc etc.

I do not think there is a single answer.

BobH
3 October 2014 at 15:12 #165478
martin perman 1
Participant
@martinperman1
Russ,

I have safety glasses for my work and I wasnt aware that there are differences, I just ordered a pair from my opticians, safety lenses and side guards. As to bifocal against varifocals, I've been wearing bifocals for years and found in the last year a problem with mid distance so asked the very same question as you and the responce was for varifocals so a few weeks ago I had my annual eye test and then ordered a pair of varifocals, it took a couple of weeks to get use to them as you have to turn you head instead of your eyes but I wont be going back to bifocals.

Martin P
3 October 2014 at 15:14 #165479
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
I have found the best approach to be get the correct glasses for your intended sight/use and wear the plastic framed overglasses which fit outside your normal frames. I must confess I use varifocals and can cope with the apparent lack of straightness, however I would really like the lens to be glass and also to be able to have what were known as "Pilot Pattern", namely having an inverted reading area as well along the top edge.

Edited By KWIL on 03/10/2014 15:14:59
3 October 2014 at 15:17 #165480
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Russ,

If you will forgive the pun; it's worth looking at the spec.

… or at least this useful summary.

MichaelG.
3 October 2014 at 15:18 #165481
martin perman 1
Participant
@martinperman1
Each to his own, I have to use over glasses sometimes but find that they mess with my prescription.

Martin P
3 October 2014 at 15:31 #165483
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
Martin,

Surely a plain lens in an overframe should not mess with the prescription?

K
3 October 2014 at 15:36 #165484
Russ B
Participant
@russb
MichaelG. Thanks for the link, I have read up on this now, it's amazing what 15 minutes in the right place achieves!

So, options seemed to be limited to Plastic, slightly more expensive Polycarbonate, and then toughened glass in a price league of its own.

Plastic and toughened glass are rated for objects of Ø22mm (43g) dropped at 1.3 metres – not high speed impact.

Polycarbonate is rated for that, and also smaller objects – a 6mm steel ball (0.86g) fired at 45m/s (150 feet per second)

I know which one I'd rather be wearing when stood near a machine tool! – I don't think it's optional, it has to be EN 166F rated – ie. Polycarbonate ????

Edited By Russ B on 03/10/2014 15:37:14

Edited By Russ B on 03/10/2014 15:54:28
3 October 2014 at 16:05 #165486
Stovepipe
Participant
@stovepipe
Why safety glasses ? Why not ordinary glasses + safety goggles ?

Dennis
3 October 2014 at 16:58 #165490
martin perman 1
Participant
@martinperman1
Kwil,

It maybe just me but I do have problems when wearing over glasses and googles.

Martin P
3 October 2014 at 17:32 #165497
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Russ B on 03/10/2014 15:36:11:

So, options seemed to be limited to Plastic, slightly more expensive Polycarbonate, and then toughened glass in a price league of its own.

.

Russ,

I tried some toughened glass specs once [actually, I think they may be laminated, like good windscreens] … They were very thick and impossibly heavy.

I reverted to using a Vitrex Visor over my normal glasses. … But if you want prescription specs, I would definitely recommend Polycarbonate.

MichaelG.
3 October 2014 at 18:06 #165502
Colin Heseltine
Participant
@colinheseltine48622
I use varifocals without too much of a problem but if working really close could do with using single vision lenses with short focal length. As far as the issue with straight lines appearing bent, I had this problem with my first pair of varifocals. Was told (rightly or wrongly that it was to do with the quality/manufacture of the glass. A higher specification glass (and more expensive) would cure the problem. I opted for the more expensive glass and the problem went away. With the first pair I actually felt as though I was at sea and things were moving up and down.

From the safety point of view I tend to use one of the full face visors, over goggles tend to steam up to easily..

Colin
3 October 2014 at 18:29 #165505
martin perman 1
Participant
@martinperman1
according to my optician there are three grades of varifocals lens which are £50 dearer between each grade, he described the lens pattern like a T shape, the cross bar at the top tapering down to the bottom as the magnification gets shorter, the cheap pair have a narrower T but as the lens gets dearer the T shape gives a wider field of of view through all magnifications, I opted for the dearer pair but had to settle for the mid range but because I wanted transitions as they could add transitions to the dearer lenses, if the glasses slide a little way down my nose I aslo get the motion sickness movement

Martin P
3 October 2014 at 21:51 #165527
FMES
Participant
@fmes
Posted by Stovepipe on 03/10/2014 16:05:15:

Why safety glasses ? Why not ordinary glasses + safety goggles ?

Because most of the time they fog up

Edited By Lofty76 on 03/10/2014 21:51:43
4 October 2014 at 12:25 #165565
mechman48
Participant
@mechman48
I wear varifocals for every day use so am well used to them, what I did for workshop use is to have my opticians make up a pair of Bi-focals with the lower 'D' lenses the same as the grade for reading (close) from my varifocals (after a eyesight check) & the main area the same as the mid distance range, that helps me to stand up straight at my lathe (back probs) so no leaning over, I only lean over if I need to examine a mic reading plus they are polycarbonate so not cheap. One thing I would suggest is to check that your glasses are centred on your eyes as this will affect your perception of objects i.e. 'swimming or bending' this why the opticians measure your eyes at the test, if they sit too high or low you will get different refraction(?) which will lead to headaches & dizziness, don't ask how I know, this is also why the opticians alter the side legs & /or the nose bridge pads when you collect them, the lenses are ground to suit the centre point of your pupils, hence why you move your head to pick up the correct focal length..so I'm told by my optician.

George
4 October 2014 at 15:13 #165580
John Shepherd
Participant
@johnshepherd38883
I wear Varifocals and get on well with them most of the time but there can be problems when I have to look at something from an awkward position or in a confined space with my head on one side for example.

I have wondered if a pair of these adjustable specs would be good for workshop use http://www.eyejusters.com/home/

Has anybody tried them?

Edited By John Shepherd on 04/10/2014 15:13:42
4 October 2014 at 17:38 #165590
Metalhacker
Participant
@metalhacker
I have been wearing varifocal ordinary glasses for years, and after I had my cataracts fixed, opting for good distance vision, I needed reading glasses. Over the counter glasses are fixed focal length so you need different ones for reading, computer, shopping etc, very tedious to change all the time. I got varifocal readers which were great soasked my friendly local optician (also the local vicar) about varifocal safety glasses. After some xplanation of what I wanted them for they agreed to produce some. As i had opted for the widest reading field in my ordinary ones, very pricey, I went for a smaller field. Big mistake for looking at rules, micrometers etc. but otherwise much better than goggles over glasses. As Lofty says, they fog up! But do try to avoid 'overlooking' them as of course then they aren't protecting your eyes! How do I know……..?

Andries
4 October 2014 at 23:01 #165639
Russ B
Participant
@russb
Thanks again to all who have replied, I have read through all the comments and soaked it all up, I have my eye test tomorrow morning so I'll be discussing the options there and then.

I will be sure to enquire about different grades of varifocal lens quality should that be an option for me, as it's company funded I know it's only basic (circa £100 + test fee) so I will likely have to put forwards £50 to £100 to upgrade to a medium or high quality lens which I will have to think about (my prescription changes almost yearly so perhaps not it's not economical to go to far)

I spoke to my dad who also mentioned that toughened glass is very very heavy option and not really practical as they'll tend to slip off when leaning over and end up damaged.
4 October 2014 at 23:11 #165640
Ian Welford
Participant
@ianwelford58739
I've got varie focals and they're good but for grinding etc wear goggles with polycarboate lens over the top. A pain for use for 2 hours or more not had an issue with fogging up ( they have side vents ).

My optician suggested measuring how close you are to work and then he would calculate the prescription based on that. Haven't done this yet though! Just stop the lathe, wait then lean in close to check.

Ask for the lenses to have hardened coatings put on, costs a bit more but worth it.

Ian
5 October 2014 at 02:20 #165651
Muzzer
Participant
@muzzer
It looks as if you can only get prescription safety glasses up to Impact Grade 2 but they sound pretty handy and 89 quid. It's hard to say what Impact Grade most of us should consider but in his days as a hardened industrial safety manager, my father would always recommend Grade 1 for things like grinding, drilling and milling (where hardened tools can shatter and eject vicious fragments). This tends to mean polycarbonate goggles or face shields.

My preferred solution is the safety glasses that I wear over my normal ones. With 2 barriers between the work and your eyeballs, you wouldn't think they'd need to be very special They are more like large glasses than goggles as such, so less prone to fogging up when things get exciting. They also provide side protection which you don't get with normal glasses and is pretty important. For really hairy stuff I will use one of those full face visors instead to protect my head and face to some extent.

Specsavers seem to sell "medium impact" prescription safety glasses. Might be worth getting some of these next time the lenses are due for replacement if they aren't too unwieldy.

Murray
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