Safety reading glasses?

[radhak]

Finally, I gave up my vanity and went for a vision check last month, and was given reading glasses. What a difference they make! I am no longer looking for a brighter lighting or longer arms to read regular magazines and books. I am even able to read the small print on the groceries (where they want to hide from you how many calories it is).

Last night I was at the lathe, and I realized I would do much better if I had my reading glasses on. Tried it, it was fabulous. Covered it with my large safety goggles - meh, neither comfortable nor secure.

So - can I get safety goggles made with my reading glass prescription? Maybe somebody makes it with special, strong material that is really safe? I don't want to wear my regular glasses and have them break on impact - double jeopardy!

How do y'all manage (those who wear glasses)?

[Lonnie in Orlando]

I bought some safety glasses with built in non-prescription readers and side shields at Lowes. 3-M Nuvo Readers. I really like them.

Don't know if they would stop a flying chunk from a lathe. I wear a full face shield + my glasses when I turn.

Most of the WW TV shows say that prescription safety glasses are available from your "eye care professional."

FWIW - I also bought some non-prescrip safety glasses at WoodCraft. Didn't fit right and the readers were too low on the lens. I don't know if the ones that I bought were a permanent stock item at WoodCraft, or if they were a short term promo item.

- Lonnie

[parnelli]

I don't own these but saw this webpage a while back

http://www.computerbifocals.com/hooties.html

not sure if they'd fit the bill here, but seemed interesting

[Tom Slick]

Duluth Trading has your eyes covered
http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/d...ses/82382.aspx

[LCHIEN]

I need safety glasses for work - not all the time but when i go in the shop or in the lab or at customer field locations. So its a hassle to change glasses. Plus I know that I should wear them in the shop. So I want glasses that I can wear all the time and not look like a factory worker.

My eye doctor has available various safety frames which are ANSI approved, and have fixed or detachable side shields. The ANSI Z87.1 rating is stamped on the insides of the ear-pieces. I keep my side shields in my briefcase and can put them on quickly when required.

Some frames are ugly and look like safety glasses, like a machinist would wear. My frames are gold-colored wire rims which pretty much pass for normal glasses so I can wear them all the time.

So for the lenses you will also want ANSI-approved Z87.1 lenses which are impact resistant, they'll be very lightly etched in small text near the edge so it can be confirmed. My lenses have graduated or progressive focus (e.g. like bifocals but no line and continuous change of prescription for distance and reading), and photo-gray "Transitions" so they offer sun protection.
And anti scratch coating etc.

I get my employer to pay for mine. Sometimes customers will insist on proof of safety glasses so the ANSI stamps on the glass and the frames is proof. Not always good about safety shields in my home shop.

The biggest hassle with the graduated focals is crouching down and looking at the underside of the router table to make adjustments... you're looking up thru the far focus part of the glasses. Very frustrating. Just like trying to read the label on the bottom shelf at the grocery store.

Lens Marking:
NEW ANSI Z87.1-2003
Removable lenses must be marked in a permanent and legible manner. All lenses must bear a mark or logo identifying the manufacturer. For spectacles with removable lenses, basic impact lenses require no additional mark related to Z87, but high impact lenses require a "+" mark indicating the elevated impact performance. For all other product categories, non-removable lenses, windows or filters require the manufacturer's mark or logo. The product need carry only one marking. Basic impact lenses shall be marked with "Z87" and high impact lenses shall be marked "Z87+". Special purpose lenses and photochromic lenses continue to carry "S" and "V" markings respectively. A product marking chart is provided in a new Annex G.

Mine are marked V+ and a tiny logo.

[leehljp]

Another form for reading or close up work are the stick on type. I had some and enjoyed them until I lost them after a few months of not using them.

http://www.amazon.com/OPTX-20-Stick-...f=pd_sim_hpc_2

http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/optx...-bifocals.html

One of the reviews on Amazon said that they were not flexible and therefore would not stick. Mine were very flexible and stuck on real well. Of course, they have to be on clean lense.

[cabinetman]

I've got several pairs of "safety glasses/goggles". They are good and it took a several brands to find ones that are comfy. Still, the best protection is a full face shield.

Eyeglasses made with polycarbonate are a form of a safety protection, but bits and pieces can find their way around the frames. One of the car mechanics I used to use had bifocal glasses, but the reading part was at the top, not on the bottom. That made it convenient for working under cars.

.

[phrog]

I bought a pair of the non-prescription safety goggles at Woodcraft that Lonnie referred to (and didn't like). They come in different strengths from 0.5 - 3.0 if I remember correctly. They have insets near the bottom that function as the readers. I differ with Lonnie in that I love mine. They were on sale at the time for around $5. The problem arises if one eye is greatly weaker than the other eye because both insets are the same. I wear them constantly while in the shop and I'm actually able to see to read a tape measure thru the insets but am able to see the stack of lumber across the room while not using the insets. When using the lathe I put a face shield on over the goggles with no trouble. I've had mine a couple years but think they still carry them.

[eezlock]

safety reading glasses

That is an interesting post about the safety glasses as I was just talking about them the other day to a friend. I told him that I had bought the Bearcat brand
of wraparound safety glasses from WT Tools and how much I liked them as well.
They come with the bottom "readers" like bifocals, in different strengths and aren't very expensive either. Actually they are the most comfortable one's I have ever seen and the lightest in weight. I have a habit of putting them on as soon as I walk into the shop and wear them for all my wood and metal working.

They are even second nature to me when I'm out on the shop....I keep another pair in my work truck when I'm on the job! They are great when using the weed eater and chainsaw never know when some junk my fly into your eyes
outside! If you go to WT Tools website (WTTools.com) check them out, you may like them. eezlock

[Sweet Willy]

The Walmart where I live (tn) sells osha approved lenses for about $25. I use them for everything. What I don't like about them is they scratch easily. But, I am tough on glasses.