We rely on our vision for a vast majority of tasks at work or home, for learning, using tools or devices, and so much more. As time goes by, it’s frequent to develop vision problems that require care: the prevalence of vision loss in Canada is expected to increase nearly 30% in the next decade.*
With that being said, few work environments are devoid of eye hazards. Flying objects, dust, wood chips, cement fragments, chemical agents; eye hazards abound, and they could easily lead to an eye injury. Because the eyes are both delicate and intricate, the damage is usually permanent. So how does one protect their eyes, while maintaining vision correction?
Prescription glasses (Rx) on their own do not protect the eyes from workplace hazards. Only standard-approved safety eyewear is designed, tested, and rated to resist impacts and other eye hazards workers may encounter. Over the glasses safety eyewear (OTG) are crucial for protecting Rx wearers’ eyes. Worn over corrective eyeglasses, they offer eye protection while allowing its wearer to keep on their corrective eyewear.
Unfortunately, OTGs are mostly known for being ill-fitting, uncomfortable, and heavy. Some manufacturers, like Honeywell have worked hard to address these issues, developing breakthrough innovations in weight distribution, materials, and comfort features, making OTGs the ideal solution for Rx wearers.
Here are our 4 top considerations for selecting an OTG that will fit your needs and feel good all day while offering you a modern, sleek look.
Balance and Weight
You need safety glasses you’ll want to keep on. With the advancement in materials and design, you’ll find OTGs that are lightweight, even with their built-in adjustability features.
With innovations in weight-distribution technology, the newer styles of OTGs have their weight distributed throughout the brow and nose pieces for optimal balance and grip. Better balance contributes to a lighter feel all around, since the weight is distributed evenly to relieve pressure off the face and back of the head.
Comfort, Fit, and Style
When workers are wearing OTGs that aren’t comfortable, they’re most likely to remove them, which instantly raises their risk of eye injury in the presence of hazards. A pair of OTG that feels comfortable for one might not feel appropriate for another. Many factors come into play when choosing the right pair of glasses, such as comfort, fit, and style. Your pair of OTG will need to fit firmly to stay in place upon impact. To easily outfit a wide variety of face sizes and shapes, look for OTGs with adjustability features that enable the user to achieve a personalized fit. Prioritize sleek, modern styling to encourage easy worker adoption and consistent wear of OTGs all shift long.
Anti-Scratch and Anti-Reflective Coatings
Wherever you’re exposed to reflections and glare, consider opting for an anti-reflective coating. Anti-reflective coating is crucial since it helps reduce or eliminate glare that results from wearing two lenses over the eye. To keep a clean and safe view, look for OTGs with a proven, long-lasting, hard coat, and anti-scratch lens coating.
Anti-Fog Technologies
Anti-fog lens coating or indirect venting technologies are what you need to look for to withstand fog, which is the leading complaint of safety eyewear users. When lenses fog, workers are left without a clear view of their environment– and nearby hazards. Vented OTGs feature strategically angled vents that are small enough to keep harmful particles out, yet large enough to allow airflow, which reduces fog’s dangerous impact on your vision.
Find your OTG here!
*Meeting the Eye Health and Vision Care Needs of Canadians: A Workforce Analysis: https://opto.ca/sites/default/files/resources/documents/workforce_analysis_final_april_2018.pdf
