Many workplaces instigate an eye safety program for their employees as part of their overall OH&S. But what if you wear prescription glasses every day, rather than contact lenses? What if the company’s chosen safety glasses don’t fit over a pair of prescription lenses? The worst option would be for the wearer to feel that their own standard prescription glasses will do. Safety glasses and goggles are specially made to protect from impact, dust, splashes etc, whereas prescription glasses are made purely to improve vision, not for protection. They are usually made of glass, so an incident involving impact could result in major injury.

Pilot 2: A popular and adaptable range of goggles, Pilot 2 is available in clear, smoke or CSP lenses, so whether you’re indoors, outdoors, or both, there’s a lens tint to suit. Pilot 2 is also available with a Neoprene strap, increasing its resistance to fire, temperature, chemicals and splashing: it is ideal for oil and gas environments. Pilot 2 Fire is similarly specialised, made with the needs of firefighters in mind. Whatever the model, Pilot 2 offers an excellent field of vision and the platinum coating increases the longevity of wear.

Atom: For those looking for a smaller profile and more compact goggles, there is Atom. Still offering a great peripheral vision, Atom is lightweight and offers medium impact protection as well as protection from splashes. What makes these particularly handy is that they come with an optional mouth guard, offering full-face protection.

Coverall: Ideal for work in clean rooms, coverall offers an economic option that offers good visibility, adjustable strap and can come vented or sealed, depending on preference and use.

Safety in prescription lenses

Having eyewear that fits over prescription glasses is ideal for intermittent wear and bulk ordering for a range of wearers where the prescription level is unknown. However, a better option is to make the safety eyewear carry the right prescription for the wearer. This will prevent discomfort and slipping between 2 pairs of glasses, increasing the likelihood of the protection being worn and improving safety. It also doesn’t hurt that Bollé Safety has an attractive range of prescription safety eyewear in a variety of styles for different uses, further increasing wearability.

Bollé Safety’s prescription range can be ordered to suit a specific wearer’s prescription whilst maintaining protection from various work hazards like splashes, dust and debris. Most frames come with 4 lens options: single vision, bifocal, progressive and extended near. As with the rest of the Bollé Safety range, many also come with specialised coatings, such as Platinum anti-scratch, anti-fog. Finally, most of the frames offer the wearer a choice of lens material: Polycarbonate or Trivex.

• Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is the Bollé Safety standard lens material. It is strong, impact-resistant and offers good clarity. You can’t go wrong with polycarbonate lenses.

• Trivex

Trivex is considered the premium alternative to polycarbonate. Having a higher Abbe value than polycarbonate (the value assigned to clarity) Trivex lenses cause less chromatic aberration than polycarbonate lenses. This means slightly clearer central and peripheral vision, with less blurring. Trivex lenses are also lighter than polycarbonate, so perfect for highly active work.

Prescription Safety Glasses

B808: A versatile pair of glasses, B808 has ventilated side shield for extra protection, comes in black or red, and in large or small. A non-slip nose bridge and tip-grip temples keep them from sliding off, maximising safety.

Drift: Available in brown, smoke or black frames, Drift has non-slip nose pads and comfortable temples, and prescription lenses are available in tinted or clear.

Spicy: For a more typical glasses look, Spicy offers medium protection whilst remaining stylish and comfortable. Spicy is available in tortoiseshell, blue/black and green/black; has tinted or clear lenses that can be polycarbonate or trivex; and built-in side shields.

Baxter RX:  Baxter can be used as safety glasses or sealed eyewear, by way of a removable foam gasket and strap. They provide comfort and style with a highly wraparound frame, and the waterproof foam gasket and strap offers effective protection from splashes and dust. Lenses are available in polycarbonate or trivex and can be clear or tinted depending on preference.