Safety Readers: Bifocal Safety Glasses & Goggles
Protecting our eyes is one the most affordable and easiest ways to safeguard our future. No matter how careful we are, accidents do happen. It is hard to imagine life without our vision, so wearing adequate safety eyewear is essential.
Many of us have perfect vision except when it comes to reading. Prescription safety glasses can be incredibly expensive, and if you only require extra magnification for reading then a prescription is unnecessary and a waste of money. Safety readers are the perfect affordable alternative, and you will be overwhelmed by the huge range of options and styles that are available to you.
The most popular form of safety readers are safety bifocals. Safety bifocal readers are made up of a normal vision lens with a small magnification diode molded into the main lens usually near the bottom. This means that there is no need to change glasses when you need to read.
Safety glasses are a lot more fashionable than they used to be. They are no longer chunky, uncomfortable and unattractive - they now come in very stylish designs and you will barely be able to tell you are wearing safety glasses. All safety readers sold in the USA must pass strict testing as overseen by the ANSI (American National Standards Institute). There are two main levels of protection in safety readers: basic impact protection and high impact protection. Basic impact safety readers can be recognized by a Z87 marking on the lenses, whereas high impact safety readers have a Z87+ marking on both the lenses and the frames. It is important that whatever safety readers you purchase will adequately protect you from whatever dangers you will be posed with.
Most safety readers lenses are made from polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is much stronger, shatter-resistant and lightweight than other materials that are sometimes used such as glass and some types of plastics. The only issue with polycarbonate is that it can scratch much more easily than other materials, so it is advised that if your safety readers don't already feature an anti-scratch hard coating that you consider purchasing one additionally to prolong the life of your safety readers.
The type of safety readers you should buy will depend on what purpose you require them for. Many people use safety readers for working on construction sites, factories or other hazardous environments. Other people use safety readers around the home when doing odd jobs such as painting, plumbing and gardening. All of these activities can pose a risk to your eyes if safety glasses are not worn. Those who take part in sports or ride motorcycles may also require safety readers.
Safety readers are surprisingly cheap to purchase, and you can order a good quality, attractive pair for less than $5. Some of the most popular brands of safety readers include AO Safety, Pyramex, Crews, Edge, Elvex and All Safe.
* AO SUNGLASSES are NOT ANSI Z87.1-2003 safety glasses
AO Safety are the best selling and most popular brand of safety glasses in the USA. Fortunately they are still very well priced without compromise on quality. For less than $8.75 a pair, you can purchase their basic Lexa Bifocal Safety Reader Glasses with Clear Anti-Fog Lenses. Like all of AO Safety's range of products, they feature an anti-fog lens which is great for anyone working in humid or tight situations to ensure your vision is kept clear at all times. They have a choice of +1.5, +2.0, and +2.5 magnification diopters.
Pyramex are another popular brand of safety readers and also have a great range of stylish designs. For just $8.50 a pair you can purchase the Pyramex V2 Reader Bifocal Safety Glasses with Gray Lens. A gray tinted lens in your safety reader is ideal for anyone who spend a lot of time working outdoors. The tint helps minimize glare associated with bright conditions that can irritate and cause fatigue. It also blocks out all of the harmful UV rays whilst still letting in the harmless light without distorting color perception.
Safety readers can be purchased from a wide range of outlets, and it shouldn't be hard for you to get your hands on a pair that you like. For the most choice and best prices, shopping online is the best way to buy your new safety readers. However, if you prefer to feel and touch products before you buy them, you should head to your local hardware or building supply store who should be able to help you out with choosing your safety readers.
