According to a report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), an estimated 2,000 American workers sustain eye injuries that are job-related every day. These injuries result primarily from: 

• Objects scraping or striking the eyes

• Penetration by sharp objects

• Burns from chemicals and heat

Therefore, you must protect your eyes by wearing protective safety glasses prescribed for specific needs.

For people with imperfect vision, standard prescription glasses may not offer the protection required for safety in their jobs. A pair of plain safety glasses will protect the eyes but will not correct vision problems.

What, then, differentiates standard prescription glasses from safety glasses? What are prescription safety glasses

Prescription glasses vs. safety glasses: What’s the difference?

Taking care of your eyesight is crucial, but not every pair of glasses serves the needs of your eyes. There is a clear difference between a pair of glasses made for safety in the workplace and one that just corrects a specific refractive error. 

From their material makeup to the hardness of their lenses, safety and standard prescription eyewear are different. They require poles-apart safety standards in the making of their lenses. Federal law safety requirements regulate these standards. So, when you want to purchase safety eyewear, look for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-approved American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87.1-rated safety glasses.

The design of safety glasses’ lenses requires that the materials are strong, clear and resistant to impact from flying objects. The unique design of safety glasses covers a large area of the eyes, thereby helping to protect you from biohazards, splashes of hazardous chemicals, and high-impact flying objects. Regular prescription glasses, however, do not offer this level of protection. Instead, they are much more comfortable and intended primarily to correct vision problems.