How to choose the best safety glasses for the job
Safety experts and ophthalmologists agree that 90% of eye injuries that occur on the jobsite can be prevented simply by selecting the right kind of personal protective eyewear (PPE) for the job.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 20,000 eye-related injuries or illnesses occur yearly, resulting in time away from work. Learn how to choose the right safety glasses, as well as types of lenses and tinting, to protect yourself and your crew on the job.
Types of safety glasses
Your eyes are sensitive and they need protection, especially when working with equipment that can cause burns or create flying debris that may penetrate the eye. Discover each type of safety glasses for different jobs to keep your eyes protected.
Welding glasses
Clear polycarbonate lenses with side protection can protect eyes from flying sparks and debris, but only shaded lenses can protect eyes from the dangerous ultraviolet and infrared welding light.
Different welding techniques have specific lens shade requirements. Consider opting for a welding helmet with variable shades that are suitable for a wider range of welding techniques.
Safety goggles for janitorial work
Prevent chemicals like toilet bowl cleaners from splashing into your eyes with safety goggles. Goggles with side vents are ideal to keep air flowing in and moisture out while you’re working. For the utmost eye safety in janitorial applications, check out these protective splash goggles from 3M®.
Landscaping safety glasses
Protect your eyes from branches, flying debris, and UV rays with safety glasses that have transition lenses, which will automatically adjust to your lighting condition. Milwaukee® offers polarized wrap-around safety glasses that work to shield your eyes from any intense lighting or loose obstructions on the jobsite.
Safety glasses for plumbing/HVAC
Look for safety glasses with an enhanced nose piece design and integrated ridges to channel away sweat while on the job. A great example of this would be these polycarbonate clear-lens glasses from Radians®, designed with a vented nose piece for both comfort and added security.
Construction safety glasses
These curved, polycarbonate-lens glasses from Dewalt are a great choice for your construction projects as these qualities provide superior impact resistance as well as peripheral vision and extra protection on the sides.
Safety readers (Magnifiers)
For experienced contractors who need reading glasses to check blueprints, read tape measures, or wire panels — swapping between safety glasses and standard readers on an active job site is a significant safety hazard. To address this, Ferguson offers safety glasses with built-in bifocal diopters in various strengths (e.g., +1.5, +2.0, +2.5). These integrated "safety readers" eliminate the need to switch eyewear, solving a daily frustration for crew members and enhancing both safety and efficiency on the job.
All-day comfort integration
Modern safety glasses are designed for extended wear, ensuring that comfort is not sacrificed for protection. Many frames now feature adjustable rubber nose pieces that can be customized for a secure, non-slip fit. Flexible, over-molded temples prevent uncomfortable pinching behind the ears, even after hours of use. Additionally, look for models with thin arms specifically designed to fit comfortably under heavy earmuffs and hardhats, allowing for seamless integration with your other essential personal protective equipment (PPE).
Lenses
Safety lenses are available in glass, plastic, polycarbonate, and Trivex™ materials. While all four types must meet or exceed the minimum requirements for protecting your eyes, polycarbonate lenses provide the highest level of protection from impact.
Additionally, safety glasses must carry the manufacturer’s permanent marking on the lens, followed by a “+” if the lenses are impact-rated, to meet the most recent ANSI Z87.1-2025 standard.
Tinting
Lenses can be clear, tinted, photochromic, or polarized. Each type offers various levels of ultraviolet protection. Tinted safety glasses are marked with a “V” if they have photochromic lenses. An “S” marks special-purpose tinted lenses.
Other markings on special-purpose tinted safety glasses include:
“W” and shade number: welding
“U” and scale number: UV filters
“L” and number: visible light filter
“R” and scale number: IR filter
“X”: anti-fog
“D” and number: splash or dust
Pro tip: A common misconception is that only dark tinted lenses protect against UV rays. However, clear polycarbonate safety lenses inherently block 99.9% of harmful UVA and UVB radiation. While tinted lenses are designed to reduce eye strain from bright glare, clear lenses fully protect your eyes from sun damage, even on overcast days.
Find the best safety glasses with Ferguson
No matter the type, the best safety glasses comply with the most recent ANSI Z87 standards for protection against blunt impact (to both lenses and frame), non-ionizing radiation, dust particles, and exposure to chemicals. Shop Ferguson for safety glasses.