Safety goggles, sometimes referred to as safety glasses, are very important in making sure that your eyesight is taken care of and protected in certain activities, especially while on the job. Each year, there are more than 700,000 Americans that injure their eyes while working. That is a number that can be brought down significantly if more and more people wore safety goggles while working. Even experts say that wearing safety goggles prevents up to 90 percent of all injuries dealt to eyes, and there are other facts that people need to know regarding safety goggles and protecting their eyes.

Safety goggles are not like normal glasses in the sense that they have to pass and conform to a much higher standard than regular eyeglasses. This includes a series of tests for impact resistance and other, simulated life instances. All the safety standards set cover both the lenses of the safety goggles and the frames themselves. Safety goggles can be prescription goggles as well, depending of course on the user. Even regular users of eyeglasses are advised to use safety or protective goggles as they have more protective features than regular spectacles.

There is an existing ANSI standard that applies to eye safety, and includes servaral different types of eye protection products, goggles, face shields and helmets, and respirators. The ANSI standards for safety for eyewear has a list of rules that must be followed. For example, with regards to impact tests, the lenses of safety goggles are tested separated from their frames. It is only for high impact classification that they are tested together. It is also considered by the ANSI standards that regular lenses used for high impact testing are weaker in structure and make compared to safety goggles with prescription lenses, as the prescription lenses are thicker than regular ones. Thinner prescription safety lenses however, are prohibited.

Safety goggles are a standard issue in many professions. People who work in laboratories handling chemicals are naturally required to wear goggles while at work. This prevents the unintentional splashing of certain chemicals and elements from irritating your eyes. Construction workers also make use of safety goggles. Carpentry workers use safety goggles to shield their eyes from wood shards and dust, while metalworkers use safety goggles or masks to protect from embers and strong light from irritating their eyes. Fire fighters also make use of special safety goggles that are often attached to their oxygen masks that protect them from harsh elements and allow them to open their eyes in harsher conditions.