Since the early 1900s, when the first safety eyewear was developed and used, clear has been the most popular safety lens color. For decades, clear lens options have been useful and reliable. They provide general protection and help workers avoid eye injuries by giving them protection from dust, debris and impact, encountered on many job sites. But in most cases, they do not offer a solution to address one of the most serious issues affecting workers today: reflected light. Reflected light is found in most workplaces including laboratories, factories, warehouses and construction sites.
With standard safety glasses, light scatters or reflects off of a lens at many angles. This causes annoying glare and results in an inability to clearly see objects directly in front of you. These reflections cause the eye to work harder in order to focus clearly. The brighter the light, the more profound this issue can be. As the day goes on, the eye will strain to focus, resulting in eye fatigue. Eye strain and eye fatigue are among the key factors that can reduce worker efficiency and productivity. Multiple light sources and high intensity lighting increase eye strain and fatigue, affecting the worker’s ability to focus on their task. As visual acuity is reduced, eye strain is increased and costly mistakes or injuries can occur.