presumably EN166 - but is there more to it?
Russ B | 03/10/2014 14:37:38 |
635 forum posts 34 photos | Hi, I know different work places may have very different approaches to safety so I think I might be asking a difficult question. I will be using these at University on a whole range of tool room equipment (mills, grinders, lathes, etc) as well as similar tasks at work and home. On the topic of varifocals or plain, would it be best to seek advice from my optician or would anyone here care to offer advice and guidance (I'm short sighted, I've never used split lenses or varifocals but often take my glasses off for short work (1 metre being about the limit of my sharp focus, ie, I can see my lathe work, but my tools over on the bench are fuzzy till I walk up to them) Edited By Russ B on 03/10/2014 14:43:33 |
Russ B | 03/10/2014 15:00:43 |
635 forum posts 34 photos | I think they could be referring to the different lenses (plastic, polycarbonate., or toughened glass). I know the sealed goggle type offer the best protection but I'm hoping I can get away with something more comfortable for lathe work? |
Speedy Builder5 | 03/10/2014 15:07:40 |
2878 forum posts 248 photos | Once you have sorted out the spec for 'Safety', I find that varifocals are OK most of the time, but if you do woodwork, then anything longer than 2 foot looks like a banana - even straight edges ! I am told this is due to only a small area of the lense being for close up and that if you pay more, it can be bought larger (wider). I prefer glass as plastic scratches so easily, but does this go hand in hand for safety? I do have fixed focus safety glasses (£ 30) for grinding etc. However I have a 'glasses' drawer with all sorts in there, some for spraying, some for wood work etc etc. I do not think there is a single answer. BobH |
martin perman | 03/10/2014 15:12:29 |
![]() 2095 forum posts 75 photos | Russ, I have safety glasses for my work and I wasnt aware that there are differences, I just ordered a pair from my opticians, safety lenses and side guards. As to bifocal against varifocals, I've been wearing bifocals for years and found in the last year a problem with mid distance so asked the very same question as you and the responce was for varifocals so a few weeks ago I had my annual eye test and then ordered a pair of varifocals, it took a couple of weeks to get use to them as you have to turn you head instead of your eyes but I wont be going back to bifocals. Martin P
|
KWIL | 03/10/2014 15:14:30 |
3681 forum posts 70 photos | I have found the best approach to be get the correct glasses for your intended sight/use and wear the plastic framed overglasses which fit outside your normal frames. I must confess I use varifocals and can cope with the apparent lack of straightness, however I would really like the lens to be glass and also to be able to have what were known as "Pilot Pattern", namely having an inverted reading area as well along the top edge. Edited By KWIL on 03/10/2014 15:14:59 |
Michael Gilligan | 03/10/2014 15:17:39 |
![]() 23121 forum posts 1360 photos | Russ, If you will forgive the pun; it's worth looking at the spec. ... or at least this useful summary. MichaelG. |
martin perman | 03/10/2014 15:18:21 |
![]() 2095 forum posts 75 photos | Each to his own, I have to use over glasses sometimes but find that they mess with my prescription.
Martin P |
KWIL | 03/10/2014 15:31:53 |
3681 forum posts 70 photos | Martin, Surely a plain lens in an overframe should not mess with the prescription? K |
Russ B | 03/10/2014 15:36:11 |
635 forum posts 34 photos | MichaelG. Thanks for the link, I have read up on this now, it's amazing what 15 minutes in the right place achieves! So, options seemed to be limited to Plastic, slightly more expensive Polycarbonate, and then toughened glass in a price league of its own. Polycarbonate is rated for that, and also smaller objects - a 6mm steel ball (0.86g) fired at 45m/s (150 feet per second) I know which one I'd rather be wearing when stood near a machine tool! - I don't think it's optional, it has to be EN 166F rated - ie. Polycarbonate ???? Edited By Russ B on 03/10/2014 15:37:14 Edited By Russ B on 03/10/2014 15:54:28 |
Stovepipe | 03/10/2014 16:05:15 |
196 forum posts | Why safety glasses ? Why not ordinary glasses + safety goggles ?
Dennis |
martin perman | 03/10/2014 16:58:11 |
![]() 2095 forum posts 75 photos | Kwil, It maybe just me but I do have problems when wearing over glasses and googles. Martin P
|
Michael Gilligan | 03/10/2014 17:32:15 |
![]() 23121 forum posts 1360 photos | Posted by Russ B on 03/10/2014 15:36:11:
So, options seemed to be limited to Plastic, slightly more expensive Polycarbonate, and then toughened glass in a price league of its own. . Russ, I tried some toughened glass specs once [actually, I think they may be laminated, like good windscreens] ... They were very thick and impossibly heavy. I reverted to using a Vitrex Visor over my normal glasses. ... But if you want prescription specs, I would definitely recommend Polycarbonate. MichaelG.
|
Colin Heseltine | 03/10/2014 18:06:29 |
744 forum posts 375 photos | I use varifocals without too much of a problem but if working really close could do with using single vision lenses with short focal length. As far as the issue with straight lines appearing bent, I had this problem with my first pair of varifocals. Was told (rightly or wrongly that it was to do with the quality/manufacture of the glass. A higher specification glass (and more expensive) would cure the problem. I opted for the more expensive glass and the problem went away. With the first pair I actually felt as though I was at sea and things were moving up and down. From the safety point of view I tend to use one of the full face visors, over goggles tend to steam up to easily..
Colin |
martin perman | 03/10/2014 18:29:00 |
![]() 2095 forum posts 75 photos | according to my optician there are three grades of varifocals lens which are £50 dearer between each grade, he described the lens pattern like a T shape, the cross bar at the top tapering down to the bottom as the magnification gets shorter, the cheap pair have a narrower T but as the lens gets dearer the T shape gives a wider field of of view through all magnifications, I opted for the dearer pair but had to settle for the mid range but because I wanted transitions as they could add transitions to the dearer lenses, if the glasses slide a little way down my nose I aslo get the motion sickness movement
Martin P |
FMES | 03/10/2014 21:51:25 |
608 forum posts 2 photos | Posted by Stovepipe on 03/10/2014 16:05:15:
Why safety glasses ? Why not ordinary glasses + safety goggles ? Because most of the time they fog up Edited By Lofty76 on 03/10/2014 21:51:43 |
mechman48 | 04/10/2014 12:25:52 |
![]() 2947 forum posts 468 photos | I wear varifocals for every day use so am well used to them, what I did for workshop use is to have my opticians make up a pair of Bi-focals with the lower 'D' lenses the same as the grade for reading (close) from my varifocals (after a eyesight check) & the main area the same as the mid distance range, that helps me to stand up straight at my lathe (back probs) so no leaning over, I only lean over if I need to examine a mic reading plus they are polycarbonate so not cheap. One thing I would suggest is to check that your glasses are centred on your eyes as this will affect your perception of objects i.e. 'swimming or bending' this why the opticians measure your eyes at the test, if they sit too high or low you will get different refraction(?) which will lead to headaches & dizziness, don't ask how I know, this is also why the opticians alter the side legs & /or the nose bridge pads when you collect them, the lenses are ground to suit the centre point of your pupils, hence why you move your head to pick up the correct focal length..so I'm told by my optician. George |
John Shepherd | 04/10/2014 15:13:06 |
222 forum posts 7 photos | I wear Varifocals and get on well with them most of the time but there can be problems when I have to look at something from an awkward position or in a confined space with my head on one side for example. I have wondered if a pair of these adjustable specs would be good for workshop use http://www.eyejusters.com/home/ Has anybody tried them?
Edited By John Shepherd on 04/10/2014 15:13:42 |
Metalhacker | 04/10/2014 17:38:00 |
82 forum posts | I have been wearing varifocal ordinary glasses for years, and after I had my cataracts fixed, opting for good distance vision, I needed reading glasses. Over the counter glasses are fixed focal length so you need different ones for reading, computer, shopping etc, very tedious to change all the time. I got varifocal readers which were great soasked my friendly local optician (also the local vicar) about varifocal safety glasses. After some xplanation of what I wanted them for they agreed to produce some. As i had opted for the widest reading field in my ordinary ones, very pricey, I went for a smaller field. Big mistake for looking at rules, micrometers etc. but otherwise much better than goggles over glasses. As Lofty says, they fog up! But do try to avoid 'overlooking' them as of course then they aren't protecting your eyes! How do I know........? Andries |
Russ B | 04/10/2014 23:01:24 |
635 forum posts 34 photos | Thanks again to all who have replied, I have read through all the comments and soaked it all up, I have my eye test tomorrow morning so I'll be discussing the options there and then. I spoke to my dad who also mentioned that toughened glass is very very heavy option and not really practical as they'll tend to slip off when leaning over and end up damaged. |
Ian Welford | 04/10/2014 23:11:50 |
300 forum posts | I've got varie focals and they're good but for grinding etc wear goggles with polycarboate lens over the top. A pain for use for 2 hours or more not had an issue with fogging up ( they have side vents ). My optician suggested measuring how close you are to work and then he would calculate the prescription based on that. Haven't done this yet though! Just stop the lathe, wait then lean in close to check. Ask for the lenses to have hardened coatings put on, costs a bit more but worth it. Ian |
Please login to post a reply.
Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!
Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.
You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy
You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.
Click THIS LINK for full contact details.
For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.