Marcus RichardsWhen it comes to purchasing safety products, a lot of care and attention is required to make sure that you do not end up buying substandard or the wrong kind of products for your needs. This is especially true where laser glasses or safety goggles are concerned.
In the United States, many companies sell all kinds of laser safety glasses to guarantee eye protection when working in hazardous environments. However, not all so-called “safety eyewear” will protect your eyes when it matters most.
If you work with a laser beam or similar dangers, having proper laser safety eyewear is a must. You need to ensure that you buy the right kind of laser safety glasses for your needs. This is not always easy if you do not know a lot about laser safety. Read on to find out more about choosing the best laser safety eyewear on the market.
Importance of Wearing Proper Safety Glasses
One thing that laser safety experts agree on is that you cannot afford to work with laser light, for example, when using a laser pointer, without proper laser safety eyewear. Your eyesight, once lost, cannot be replaced, and it is only by using laser safety glasses correctly and consistently that you can protect yourself.
This is why laser protection is such a big issue in industries and why there are so many different types of laser safety goggles on the market. Choosing the right safety eyewear can become complicated, so if you need help buying the right laser safety glasses and goggles, read on to learn more about the most important factors that might affect your decision.
Things to Consider When Buying Safety Glasses
When buying safety products for eye protection, such as laser eyewear or face shields, your safety has to be the most important consideration, rather than price or aesthetics. Yes, the cost of good quality laser eyewear can be very high, but have you stopped to consider the cost of losing your eyesight?
Take extra care when you select new laser safety glasses, and consider the following:
1. Laser Wavelength Being Used
The level of protection afforded by laser safety glasses, goggles, and other eyewear products depends on the particular wavelength of light they can block. In most cases, laser safety glasses are designed to provide protection against lasers of different wavelengths, but you cannot find a single pair of laser safety eyewear that protects against all lasers.
It is, therefore, up to you to confirm that the laser safety glasses or other eyewear protection you buy are suitable for the wavelength of the lasers you will be working with. Proper industrial laser safety products should clearly state the level of protection the laser safety glasses provide.
2. Appropriate Optical Density Value
The optical density of the laser safety glasses is also another thing you need to look at. It determines the level of attenuation provided by the product. Different laser safety windows, glasses, and goggles have different optical densities.
If you suspect that the optical density of your laser safety glasses is not adequate for the lasers you are working with, you need to contact an eyewear specialist for help. Sometimes, the nature of your job may require that you order custom laser safety glasses to guarantee your safety.
3. Visible Light Transmission Value
When laser safety glasses or windows are being manufactured, one thing that is also considered is the visible light transmission value (VLT). Your laser safety glasses or windows are supposed to filter out the harmful light from lasers while allowing the rest of the light through.
This means the filters must be just enough to offer protection while allowing you to see through your laser safety glasses with enough clarity to perform ordinary tasks safely. Filters that block out too much light can produce a secondary safety hazard.
VLT measures how much light the filters on laser safety glasses allow to pass through. Any filters that have less than 20% VLT are considered unsafe and should not be used on laser-safety eyewear products.
4. Condition and Labeling
When you purchase any product, whether it’s a pair of custom laser safety glasses or other safety equipment, you need to make sure that it is in the best possible condition.
Imagine buying laser safety glasses that have the right optical density, a perfect filter, and the correct wavelength value, only to discover that they have a hole in the lens. Such laser safety glasses will do very little in terms of protecting your eyes from the laser.
Another important thing to look out for is the label on the laser safety glasses. It should clearly state the level of protection offered by the glass lens and all the important parameters you need to know. To be safe, always make sure your safety glasses are CE certified so that you know the glass can provide adequate protection.
5. Proper Fit
How well do your safety glasses fit? It is pointless to invest in custom safety glasses only to have them fall off at the wrong time, leaving your eyes exposed to potentially harmful lasers. Just as dangerous as a loose frame is one that is so tight it makes you uncomfortable or impedes your view.
Always test out your frames before buying to ensure that your safety glasses fit perfectly. If you cannot find laser safety glasses that fit well, consider buying custom frames instead. The protective glass portion should always completely cover your eyes from all angles.
Final Thought
Buying safety glasses does not need to be a complicated thing. As long as you know the important features to look out for, you can get yourself the perfect pair of safety glasses that will keep you safe no matter the nature of the work you are doing.
There are many manufacturers of safety glasses out there, but not all of them are reliable. Take the time to conduct proper research into the type of laser safety glasses you need, and find a trustworthy supplier to buy from.
