Eye protection

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See section safety in article glasses for more detailed information about safety for glasses.

Eye protection is protective gear for the eyes, which comes in many types depending upon the threat that is to be reduced. The threats can be particles, light, wind blast, heat, sea spray or some type of ball or puck used in sports.

Goggles

Goggles are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the eye area in order to prevent particulates, infectious fluids, or chemicals from striking the eyes. For example, when swimming, goggles protect the eyes against water.

Protection against light

The human eye is sensitive to intense light, because it damages the retina and can even blind the individual. As such, there are many different types of eye protection against light suited for different applications.

The most common forms of eye protection against light are sunglasses. These primarily protect against UV light from the sun and help increase visibility in bright conditions. They often tend to be fashionable as well as a practical. Laser protection eyewear is similar but will filter out a particular (or small range of) wavelength(s), customised to the laser being viewed. Laser protection eyewear is particularly important because of the extremely high intensity of laser light.

Welding glass protects against glare and flying sparks. Its a more extreme implementation of the same idea as sunglasses, suited to the more intense light generated during welding. Grade 14 welding glass (which is much stronger than sunglasses) can also be used to stare directly at the sun (i.e. to view a solar eclipse). Arc welding goggles must be much darker than blowtorch goggles.

Other protection

• Eye protectors used in sports like orienteering and cycling to protect eyes from insects, dust and wind blast.
• Infection control glasses

Helmets and Visors

Some helmets and visors also protect the eyes:

• Armor visors was used in conjunction with some Medieval war helmets.
• Batting helmet with full face helmet is used by the catcher in baseball and softball.
• Eyeshield is a piece of football equipment. It is a visor that attaches to the helmet of a player to protect the eyes.
• Fighter pilot helmet includes a visor for protection from the sun and from wind blast in case of an ejection.
• Firefighter's helmet F1 has a visor that protects face against heat.
• Hockey helmets use visors, shields, cages and masks that protects the face.
• Hurling helmet protects the eyes from the ball and near contact with other players.
• Lacrosse helmet is a protective device used primarily in men's lacrosse.
• Lifeboatman's helmet has a transparent visor to keep sea spray out of the eyes.
• Motorcycle helmet that's primary goal is safety to protect the rider's head during impact, thus preventing or reducing head injury or saving the rider's life. Usually the helmets has face shields that also protects the eyes against wind blast, dust and insects.
• Riot protection helmet is a type of helmet designed for Law enforcement and Military use to protect head, face and eyes for its wearer from handheld melee weapons, and thrown projectiles such as bricks, as may be met in riot control.
• Safety helmets also called hard hat used by chainsaw operators and by blue-collar workers.
• Space suit helmets has a gold-impregnated face shield to protect astronauts from direct sun rays.

Pricing

Prices depend on the cost, quality, wavelength(s), and type of goggle/lens. Prices range from $20 for a single lens to thousands of dollars per set of goggles.

Gallery

Safety glasses	Sunglasses	A sailor using welding goggles	An airman using a welding mask
Solar eclipse glasses	Swim goggles	A military scientist using laser protection eyewear	Infection control eye protection
The gold-impregnated faceshield of spacesuits protects astronauts from direct Sun rays.	Foot orienteer wearing eye protectors	A woman wearing a cycling helmet and eye protectors

External links

• http://radsafe.berkeley.edu/lsreyewr.html
• Eye Safety. When Eye Injuries Occur

See also

• Glasses
• Helmet
• Visor
• Protective headgear
• Personal protective equipment