Prescription Safety Specs

[Mark DickinsonParticipant @markdickinson21936]

Does any one have any recommendations as to where to buy a pair of single vision prescription safety specs. I’ve done a quick google and come up with a few names, but I wondered if any one had personal experience.

 

Cheers

 

mark 

[Mark DickinsonParticipant @markdickinson21936]

[Stewart HartParticipant @stewarthart90345]

Hi Mark

 

I just asked my optitian for a pair explained what I needed them for and she fixed me up with a pair of verifocus that I find great, but they cost an arm and a leg £200 ish.

 

If you ask I think vision express can also do them.

 

Hope this helps

 

Stew

[Frank DolmanParticipant @frankdolman72357]

      A word of caution.  I was provided with a pair by my employer.  They

  were like ordinary specs in ordinary frames and caused no difficulty

  in use.  But one day a sliver of glass flew upwards and passed

  between my cheek and the lower edge of the lens frame and so into

  my eye.  It landed sideways on the eyeball so although held in by

  surface tension, it didn’t stick, and I was able to float it out in a basin

  of water.  Lucky.

     I now use goggles that have something of a seal all round.

     The only question is, do I always use protection or does the hassle

   and poor vision sometimes deter me?  Goodness knows.

[oilcanParticipant @oilcan]

If i’ve read my reciept correctly (I was getting 2 ordinary pairs, bifocal safety for work & single lens safety for home use)  expect to pay 50 pounds for single & about 140 for bifocal on the high street. I would expect to pay less over the internet. I used Donald & Aitchison purely because it was convenient for me.

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

Hi Mark as a person who has to use reading glasses for close up work, find an optician who will supply safety spectacles with certificated prescription safety lenses.

Shop around as I had difficulty finding suitable safety frames, as some stock frames might not be a good fit.

Dollond and Aitchison did a reasonable job matching side frames etc. so they where comfortable.

Some Opticians are only interested in selling what they have in stock.

Problem I have that for extremely fine jobs even reading glasses give distorted vision and have to look with the naked eye (no protection).

About 2.5 maximum inches from my eyeball and I can see minute detail.

I need some plain lense safety goggles that do not protrude far from my face; normal safety goggles protrude too much.

Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

Thanks Windy.

 

Edited By Windy on 24/01/2010 15:26:47

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I got some single vision close-up prescription (like reading but not so close) from Boots with side guards – transparent panels that conform to the lens outline and protect the eye from bits entering from the side.  Don’t use them now though cos eyes have changed!  I think this is a very standard pattern, used to see people in the model shop at work using them.

 

 What would be nice is a pair of upside-down bifocals so I can see the dials on the lathe easily through the bottom but things closer than  that through the top…I keep having to tip my head back painfully far to get very close things at near eye level in focus.

[JulieParticipant @julie]

Most of the main retail shops do safety specs – I think mine were from vision express.

 

The key thing is to get the correct grade, safety specs cover a wide range, from just non-shatter (no side shields), through impact (side shields etc, but only light impact – known as grade S), through to the top level for glasses which is BS EN 166 grade F.

 

This is the grade needed for lathe, milling, drilling work etc. these protect against a 6mm steel ball at 45 m/sec, and limit penetration from the side etc.

 

They are a bit big (not stylish!) but worth it.

 

They are suitable for light grinding, and small hammer chips, but for anything heaver; glasses are unsuitable, and goggles are the way (6mm steel ball at 120 m/sec) as these are grade B.

 

If there are no side shields, or they are not marked with the BS EN mark at grade F, they are unsuitable for ME type work.

 

When I got mine, I said they had to be fully HSE and BS standard for work, so the supplier made the effort to get the correct gear (which are NOT done in house!) rather than trying any sales technique to fit me with anything else!

 

Julie 

 

 

[JimmieSParticipant @jimmies]

http://www.safetyspecs.co.uk has some interesting info on this subject.

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

Try glasses direct, you will have to google them. I am fairly sure that they do safety glasses. I can get single vision specs for under £20 inclusive from them. It is an excellent service. Regards Pat

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

The upside down varifocals that John H wanted used to be available and were known as “Pilot Specs”.  Thety were need to be able to read the overhead switchgear in the aircraft cockpit. Alas they are long gone and not available unless someone knows better.

[FunnyturnParticipant @funnyturn]

I bought some from http://www.safetyspecs.co.uk. Great advantage for me was a pair that have plain lenses and a flip up/down reading lens. Work really well as long as you do not need long lenses aswell. Only drawback is increased weight on the nose(like clip on sunglasses)and cost at about £80.

 

Brian

[Mark DickinsonParticipant @markdickinson21936]

Thank you everyone for their advise. Off to get my eyes tested this week and then i’ll do some shopping around.

 

regards

 mark

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