There are many different situations that require protection of your eyes and your eyesight. According to Prevent Blindness America, nearly 1 million eye injuries occur every year at home, at work and while playing sports.
“Believe it or not, the average home is full of dangers that often go unnoticed. In fact, accidents involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year. Ninety percent of these eye injures can be prevented through understanding, safety practices and the use of proper eye protection.”
“Eye injuries in the workplace are very common. More than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day. About 1 in 10 injuries require one or more missed workdays to recover from. Of the total amount of work-related injuries, 10-20 % will cause temporary or permanent vision loss. Experts believe that the right eye protection could have lessened the severity or even prevented 90% of eye injuries in accidents.”
“More than 40,000 people a year suffer eye injuries while playing sports. For all age groups, sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently in baseball, basketball and racquet sports. Almost all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented. Whatever your game, whatever your age, you need to protect your eyes!”
The optical at Shady Grove Eye & Vision Care offers full service safety eyewear. Safety eyewear differs from regular eyeglasses as they must conform to a higher standard of impact resistance. The higher standard applies to both the lenses and the frame or goggle. The federal government of the United States establishes safety guidelines in the workplace and educational facilities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within the U.S. Department of Labor oversees those safety practices. OSHA has adopted the safety eyewear standards established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
The ANSI standards for lenses and frames are based upon the following testing criteria. Basic impact lenses must pass the “drop ball” test, withstanding the impact of a one-inch diameter steel ball dropped from a height of 50 inches. High impact lens testing requires a high velocity test whereby a quarter-inch diameter steel ball is shot at a speed of 150 feet per second. In order to pass, the lens must not crack, chip or break.
Safety frames are also subjected to testing in order to comply with ANSI standards. The testing is based on high mass impact, durability and high velocity impact. The frame must withstand the impact of a one-inch diameter steel projectile weighing 17.6 oz dropped from a height of 50 inches onto a safety lens mounted in a safety frame. It must also withstand the shooting of a quarter-inch steel ball at a velocity of 150 feet per second from a distance of just under 10 inches at different angles and positions of impact. The frame must fully retain the lens in order to pass inspection. The frame must also pass a series of durability tests including flammability-resistance and corrosion-resistance.
Experts say that protective eyewear could prevent up to 90% of all eye injuries. The optical staff at Shady Grove Eye & Vision Care will ensure your ideal vision, comfort and OSHA compliant safety with your new safety glasses. Whether you require your safety glasses for work, home or sport use, your eyes will be protected with our precision and care.