Safety Bifocals

We spend large amounts of money protecting many of the things in life that we treasure such as our homes and cars, however very few people protect one of the most precious things they own - their eyesight. We too often take for granted the importance of our eyes, and indeed over 2000 work-related eye injuries are reported every single day in the USA. Over 90 percent of these could have been prevented had they worn adequate safety glasses.

With a huge range of options in safety glasses these days, there is no excuse not to wear them. They come in tinted, prescription, non prescription, polarized and many other types - including bifocals. Bifocals are worn by those who have generally good vision, but need magnification when reading or viewing things close up. Safety bifocals are a cheap alternative to purchasing expensive prescription safety glasses. In fact you can purchase a good quality pair for less than US$10.

Safety glasses are subject to strict standards and testing before being allowed to be sold as safety glasses. There are two main types of safety glasses, as defined by the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) - basic impact and high impact. Basic impact safety glasses are tested by dropping a 1-inch diameter steel ball onto the lenses from a height of 10 feet. If the lenses do not crack, chip or break then they will be given the basic impact rating which is marked on the glasses with a Z87. To receive a Z87+ - a high impact rating, the lenses and frames are tested together by shooting a ¼ inch steel ball at them at a speed of 150 feet per second. If the glasses do not break, crack, chip, or if the lenses do not come away from the frames then they will receive a high impact safety rating. Although basic impact safety glasses will be adequate for most peoples needs, it is recommended that you purchase the maximum safety protection to ensure you are covered for all possibilities and situations.

 

 

Safety bifocals differ from normal bifocal glasses as they provide protection from all angles. One of the most popular styles these days are the modern and fashionable wraparound style. Most safety bifocals are made from polycarbonate as it is very strong and shatter-resistant. It is also much lighter than other materials such as glass and plastic, making it more comfortable to wear. The only disadvantage of polycarbonate is that it scratches more easily than glass or plastic, however you can purchase anti-scratch coatings for your lenses to counteract this. It is also recommended that you purchase a restrainer strap for your safety bifocals to further minimize scratching from dropping or placing down your glasses. These are very inexpensive, and also help prevent you from misplacing your glasses.

You don't need to work in a dangerous environment to need safety bifocals. Even every day activities such as mowing the lawn can pose as a danger to our eyes. Sports can also be dangerous for our eyes, particularly fishing. Many of Americans are admitted to hospital every year because they get a fishing hook caught in their eye - many are permanently blinded. This is just one of the many reasons why safety bifocals are incredibly important on an every day basis. Bifocals have the benefit of being able to see normally most of the time but the addition of a magnification in one part of the glasses is perfect in assisting in reading more easily.

 

 

There are a huge range of brands that sell safety bifocals, many at very affordable prices. Elvex has a large selection of safety bifocals, with a range of different styles and lenses such as clear and grey tints. Most of their bifocal safety glasses also have anti-fog lenses which are perfect for working in humid climates. AO Safety even has LED safety bifocals that have two bright adjustable LED lights on either side of the frames which are great for hands free lighting in dark situations. Prices for AO Safety's safety bifocals start from just $10 per pair, with the LED safety bifocals costing around $17 per pair.

Gateway, Radians, Dewalt,Olympic, Edge and Jackson Safety are just some of the other popular brands of safety bifocals available at BifocalSafetyGlasses.com.