Eye Protection

[roundgun]

I was browsing eye wear selection at my eye doctor's office while waiting for my appointment. Quick chat with the glasses sales person revealed to me some high end, read expensive, ballistic rated safety glasses. I wear contact lenses so no need for prescription lenses in my eye wear. The ballistic safety glasses they were recommending included frames and non-prescription lenses for north of $700. I guess my question is what does everybody use for eye protection while shooting?? Do the high end safety glasses really provide that much more clarity and safety?? Or can I just run my gas-station-sun-glasses and save the money for ammo?

 

[elpac3]

Since you wear contacts, go to any sporting goods store and buy a pair of polycabonate shooting glasses. Be sure they are ANSI Z87 rated and you are good to go.

Should cost less than $20. You do not want to use regular sunglasses as the lens/frame combination is not safety impact rates and could fail.

 

[jake1945]

My former job requiered safety glasses made of a plastic compound. They had on display a pair that stopped a nail from penetrating. So, that is what I wear. Light weight and comfortable.

 

[Narragansett]

I have had the same shooting glasses since 1987. Snap in lenses, and an assortment of colors. I need new lenses, and it is time to send the frames back for a once over. I use Decot Hy-Wyd original style. The cost should not be too bad considering you only need plano( plain).

They are in Phoenix, AZ. Very popular among trap and skeet shooters. Google them

 

[Scorpion520AZ]

$700.00 for a pair of safety glasses used just for recreational shooting?

Home Depot, power tool section, $10.00.

 

[Toyman]

I bought DECOT shooting glasses. I met them at Shot Show and was able to be fitted for the frames and had a copy of my glasses script with me so easy transaction. At the time my wife and I took out pre tax money for health care expenses and since they were a prescribed lens I was able to pay with the pretax money.
Best money I have spent went with the best lens material to protect my eves.

 

[Bkreutz]

I was browsing eye wear selection at my eye doctor's office while waiting for my appointment. Quick chat with the glasses sales person revealed to me some high end, read expensive, ballistic rated safety glasses. I wear contact lenses so no need for prescription lenses in my eye wear. The ballistic safety glasses they were recommending included frames and non-prescription lenses for north of $700. I guess my question is what does everybody use for eye protection while shooting?? Do the high end safety glasses really provide that much more clarity and safety?? Or can I just run my gas-station-sun-glasses and save the money for ammo?

Don't use gas station sun glasses, get some shooting glasses at your local gun store, or order them from Midway USA safety glasses - MidwayUSA the price range is $10 and up. Sounds to me like your eye doctor needed to make a boat payment.

 

[fredj338]

I was browsing eye wear selection at my eye doctor's office while waiting for my appointment. Quick chat with the glasses sales person revealed to me some high end, read expensive, ballistic rated safety glasses. I wear contact lenses so no need for prescription lenses in my eye wear. The ballistic safety glasses they were recommending included frames and non-prescription lenses for north of $700. I guess my question is what does everybody use for eye protection while shooting?? Do the high end safety glasses really provide that much more clarity and safety?? Or can I just run my gas-station-sun-glasses and save the money for ammo?

Total ripoff. I shoot a high end perscription safety eyeglass, $550 out the dorr, mostly due to the wierd perscription I have & the complex lens grinding of my glasses. They are an Oakly style wrap by Laenon. Really good non perscrip safety glasses, about $125-$150 on line.

 

[ameridaddy]

I use Smith Optics Aegis Echo II, about $90 from Amazon, Optics Planet or elsewhere. Prices and availability vary widely, so shop around.
They come with clear and maybe gray lenses in a nice protective case, and you can also buy rose and yellow lenses separately for different light conditions, which interchange easily just by flipping two levers on the frame. The temples are thin and flat at the ears, so they slip under earmuffs without noise leaks.
The main basis for my choice was the level of protection they offer.

There are two main impact resistance standards, ANSI Z87.1 and MIL-PRF-31013.
Lots of shooting glasses boast they meet Z87.1 standards.

The Z87 impact standard involves a 1/4" round steel ball traveling at 150fps.

The MIL-PRF standard calls for the eye wear to withstand a 15 caliber, 5.8 grain T37 shaped projectile traveling at 650 feet per second. This is more realistic for the velocities from a ricochet or other flying debris when shooting.

To me, the MIL-PRF-31013 is more applicable to shooting.

Not all eye wear meets the MIL-PRF standard, and price is not an indicator. Smith Optics products meet the MIL at around $90, while Oakley does not at around $160.
I love my Smiths and feel my irreplaceable eyes are as safe as I can make them while shooting with them.
disclaimer - I have no connection or financial interest in Smith Optics
Luckygunner has an excellent article here on the topic: https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/eye-protection-shooting-glasses-review/

 

[roundgun]

Thank you everyone. All great info. I'm glad I didn't shell out 7 hundee, but I do think I will upgrade the CheapO sunglasses to ANSI Z87 approved hardware store safety glasses.

 

[Hithev]

Glass frames signed by Cartier or Dior may cost more than a S & W, but wouldn’t get better vision.
I ‘m not aware of the high end spectacles advertised by people likely interested in selling them, but I suppose the issue is more or less the same.
The major concern about ballistic glasses , besides any individual preferences about lens color (neutral, yellow, rust, smoke) also accordingly to environmental/atmospheric conditions, seems to be impact resistance.
Thus, any lenses complying with Ansi Z87.1 standards is basically OK.
A further step in safety is assured by Mil 32342 (GL) standards.
UV absorption, anti fog and distortion should be secondary considerations, adequate features being rather easily reached.
Highly expensive, ultra thin , highly refractive lenses play a role in the presence of relevant sight corrective needs, that is a different issue.

 

[Wise_A]

I'd point out that the ANSI Z87 standard revolves around a .25" steel ball traveling at a measly 150 fps. I don't find that particularly relevant to shooting sports. If you want to avoid spending a lot of money, great. But don't think that you found magic $20 eye armor in the Home Depot.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/eye-protection-shooting-glasses-review/

I don't think you need to blow a C-bill on eyepro. I'm currently kicking around the eye-dea (couldn't resist) of grabbing some Wiley X Sabers. A single-color set runs ~$30, and 3-color sets go for under $70.

 

[326MOD10]

Oakley makes glasses for shooting and most of their lenses are rated as such.

I picked up a pair of bi-focal glasses from Dillon Precision. You can get them with bi-focal on the top or bottom, and they work well for indoor shooting at the range.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

. . . The ballistic safety glasses they were recommending included frames and non-prescription lenses for north of $700. . . .

This isn't as bad as it sounds. The markup is probably not much more than the markup on the rest of their merchandise.

 

[TAROMAN]

Agree the optician is hitting you with big time upsell.
The common Titmus industrial glasses are just fine for me.
I prefer their added side protection.

 

[78bagger]

Went to have my eyes checked at the VA clinic. Only needed reading glasses that I get cheap at Costco, so they made me a pair of polycarbonate shooters with the prescription set to focus on the front sight. Free, free, free. If you don't count that four year hitch.

 

[Wise_A]

Whenever someone says that one pair of safety glasses or another work well, I'm reminded of this:

xkcd: TornadoGuard

I mean...they're not really "working" if they're just sitting on your head.

 

[Bozz10mm]

I was browsing eye wear selection at my eye doctor's office while waiting for my appointment. Quick chat with the glasses sales person revealed to me that all she wanted to do was up-sell me on everything. Probably works on commission.

 

[Hithev]

I'd point out that the ANSI Z87 standard revolves around a .25" steel ball traveling at a measly 150 fps. I don't find that particularly relevant to shooting sports. If you want to avoid spending a lot of money, great. But don't think that you found magic $20 eye armor in the Home Depot.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/eye-protection-shooting-glasses-review/

I don't think you need to blow a C-bill on eyepro. I'm currently kicking around the eye-dea (couldn't resist) of grabbing some Wiley X Sabers. A single-color set runs ~$30, and 3-color sets go for under $70.

I don’t think ballistic spectacles are meant to resist a bullet shot in the face, but rather to protect from debris or splinters.
That said in advance, it may be difficult to relate the impact of a 0.25” steel ball traveling at 45 fps with that of the intended debris.
Anyway, the mil –prf-32432(GL) standard (met by the Wiley you mention) refers to the above mentioned steel ball traveling at a respectable speed of 650 fps.

 

[Hithev]

Agree the optician is hitting you with big time upsell.
The common Titmus industrial glasses are just fine for me.
I prefer added side protection.

Side protection is an excellent point you raised. Several frames extend their lenses laterally without any appendices, leaving a wider peripheral vision, that may be advantegeous or not depending on the situation and individual preferences.