Types of Safety Glasses

Safety glasses are created to protect the eyes and part of the face when a person is engaged in an activity hazardous to the eyes. Types of safety glasses include glasses made to protect the wearer from flying objects and debris like wood shavings during woodworking. Some are made to protect the eyes from the damaging flashes of light that come with a welding operation. The name safety glasses is a bit of a misnomer, because most safety glasses now have plastic lenses. Some can be adjusted to cover regular eyeglasses or sunglasses, which removes the annoyance of taking them on and off to accommodate the safety glasses. The lenses of safety glasses must also be shatter resistant. The Occupational Safety 7 Health Administration has standards for different types of safety glasses to use for certain jobs.

Types of Safety Glasses
Sunglasses can be thought of as a type of safety glasses, because they protect the eye from damaging ultra violet light. Some brands of sunglasses are extremely in vogue and are worn simply as fashion statements.

Laser safety glasses protect people against the light when a laser beam is being used. Both doctors and patients put on these safety glasses when laser surgery is being performed.

Other types of safety gasses must also be worn when looking at a total solar eclipse, though the viewer should be careful that the safety glasses are strong enough to offer protection. The light from the sun’s photosphere can damage the retina to the point of blindness. The viewer isn’t even aware of the damage that’s taking place because the retina has no pain receptors.

Athletes who engage in high velocity sports like running or cycling wear different types of safety glasses to protect their eyes from the wind, dust and other irritants. Swimmers also wear safety glasses to protect their eyes from the chlorine and salt of a swimming pool or the ocean.