Worker operating machinery wearing safety glasses

The Importance of Eyewear Fit

How safety glasses fit is important for several reasons. First, they must fit properly to work properly. Second, if they’re not comfortable, most people probably won’t wear them for very long. Finally, eyewear fit in terms of personal style is also important since some won’t wear safety eyewear if they don't like how they look.

Fortunately, there are many modern, lightweight as well as classic options available, including those for prescription eyewear. Safety eyewear has been refined in ways that account for various physical differences like height and weight, location of cheekbones, nose bridges, and ears, as well as head size and shape.

“New designs in eyewear based on in-depth research of facial profiles have led to cutting-edge styles that fit up to 85 percent of workers right out of the box, with no adjustments required.” (Occupational Health & Safety)

Eyewear options also now exist that account for gender and ethnicity features. So, finding eyewear that fits is a matter of understanding what the right fit is and taking the time to find it.

Understanding Fit

Gaps in how safety eyewear fits can allow debris to enter and affect sight or damage eyes. Additionally, slipping, fogging, and soreness from ill-fitting eyewear contribute to distraction, lost productivity, and even non-compliance.

“Experts believe that the right eye protection could have lessened the severity or even prevented 90% of eye injuries in accidents.” (ISHN)

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What does the right fit feel like?

While the right fit is to a great extent about personal comfort, you should also try to achieve the following when choosing your safety eyewear.

  • No pressure points on your head or ears
  • No pinching of your nose
  • Good visibility
  • Even distribution of the weight of the eyewear
  • Lenses close without touching eyelashes
  • Frames 6-8mm from your face
  • Lenses covering eyebrows

Safety eyewear should also stay in place when you move your head. If your safety eyewear gives you unrestricted movement and vision, is comfortable, and looks good, you’ve probably found the right pair.
To help achieve your ideal fit, safety eyewear options include:

  • Adjustability at the temples for decreasing gaps
  • Flexibility for fitting a range of nose bridge sizes
  • Padded temples and ear cushioning
  • Thinner temple profiles for those who also wear other PPE like hard hats
  • Small and slim sizes for women and children
  • Built-in ventilation for airflow

Understanding what the right fit with safety eyewear means and knowing the various options available is half the battle. Yet, there are so many different and affordable safety eyewear. How do you find that right fit amidst the plethora of choices?

Finding the Right Eyewear Fit

With all the features and options available today, finding the right fit is a matter of trying different options and styles. To help make that process go more smoothly, the experts at Safety Glasses USA can walk you through finding your perfect safety eyewear fit based on your preferences and needs.

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