Safety Spectacles: Which Lens?

When it comes to safety spectacles, there are four different types of lenses to choose from. Plano lenses are made for workers who do not require vision correction. They may be flat or curved and may be clear, filtered, or tinted. Prescription lenses are designed for people who wear or need glasses. Like Plano lenses, they may be clear, tinted, or filtered and can be removed. Filter lenses protect against optical radiation and are graded according to project, light intensity, and shade number.

There are also special lenses that require an unusual filtering of light. Here are a few examples:

• Photochromic lenses (lenses that darken when exposed to light)
• Didymium-containing lenses
• Cobalt-containing lenses
• Uniformly tinted lenses

A few things to keep in mind regarding these special lenses:

• They may not correspond to specific filter lens shades.
• They may not provide enough protection against UV and infrared radiation.
• They may come with lift-front devices that may either snap on or off or permanently attach - these devices may also be raised or lowered.

To learn more about Eye & Face Protection visit our Eye & Face Protection Online Training web page.