Updated: 28 Sep 2009

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Introduction

Eye protectors could save your vision. We tested 14 pairs in 3 different styles and found 4 to recommend.

Cheap and effective eye protectors are widely available. All but one of the models we tested offered good protection from a variety of household and workshop hazards.

The choice comes down to price, comfort, and what tasks you want them for.

Models we tested

This report contains test results and recommendations for the following models of safety glasses:

How we tested

We tested to the Australia/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1337 for eye protectors. This involved fitting the eye protectors to an artificial headform and then hitting them with a steel ball at low-, medium- and high-impact speeds. At each of these speeds, we hit firstly the lens of the protector, then the frame, and finally the sidebar.

• For the low-impact resistance test we dropped a 22mm steel ball from a height of 1.8 metres.
• For the medium-impact resistance test we shot a 6.35mm steel ball from a compressed-air-powered gun at 144km/h.
• We again used a 6.35mm ball for the high-impact resistance test but ramped the speed of the ball up to 432km/h. Tough stuff.

Note: to meet the AS/NZS 1337 Standard, these eye protectors need only pass the medium-impact test. We also ran the high-impact test to find the strongest models. Failure occurred if:

• The lens, frame, or lens housing or side shield separated into two or more pieces.
• More than 5mg of lens material became detached.
• The ball passed through the lens, frame, or lens housing.
• The lens became dislodged from its normal position.
• There was any contact between the lens and the “eye” of the headform.

We also tested the hardness and scratch resistance of the lenses.

• Hardness was measured using a specialised instrument.
• Scratch resistance was measured after pouring 3.6kg of dry sand and gravel mix over the lens from a 700mm height. These tests give a measure of how well the glasses will last when subject to the rough and tumble of everyday use, before you bin them because of lens scratching.

Finally we tested for splash resistance, which tests whether liquid sprayed at the face can reach the eyes. This is a bit more specialised, but could be important if you spray garden chemicals.

For details of how all the models performed, see the test results. 

Styles of eye protection

We tested three different styles of eye protectors.

• Frameless spectacles: These are like spectacles but their lenses “wrap around” to varying degrees. They’re light enough to be worn for hours at a time.
• Wrap-around spectacles: These are slightly heavier and chunkier than the frameless models. They have a wide sidebar that gives increased protection from sideways-flying debris. They’re often big enough to wear over prescription spectacles if that’s required.
• Safety goggles: These are the full Monty: around the edge of the goggle there’s a seal that fits against the face and the goggles are secured by elastic straps.

While goggles probably give the greatest overall protection, they’re the heaviest to wear. And because of their tight seal they’re more prone to fogging up. They’re a "put them on … do the job … take them off" proposition. They’re probably best for tasks involving sprays or fine dust.

All the spectacles and goggles we tested had clear plastic lenses – although tinted lenses were available for some. And anti-fog coatings were offered with a few.

Some of the frameless and wrap-around specs had holes in the sidebar so you could attach a cord for hanging the specs around your neck when you weren’t using them.

Tip: Everyone’s head is a different shape. We recommend you try your preferred eye protectors before you buy them. Make sure they’re a good fit – particularly if you want to wear them over spectacles.

What we found

Impact resistance

We tested the eye protectors against the appropriate Australia/New Zealand Standard. This is one of a number of international standards that eye protectors on sale here can claim to meet. Apart from the Promark and Samson models, all the models in our test claimed to meet at least one of these standards.

The Australia/NewZealand standard specifies low, medium and high impact tests. Several of the models didn’t state whether they met low-, medium- or high-impact resistance. So we tested all the models at all three levels.

Low- and medium-impact tests

• The only failure – with the ball breaking through the lens and making contact with the  “eye” – was the Samson Safety Goggles. While these passed the low-impact test, their lens shattered in the medium-impact test.
• No other models failed the medium-impact test.

We don’t recommend the Samson goggles, despite their low price. Other models with much greater impact resistance are available for under $10.

High-impact test

• 3 of the frameless specs and 1 of the goggles passed the high-impact test: these are our recommended models.
• None of the wrap-around specs passed the high-impact test.

The Norton wrap-arounds claim to be unbreakable – but our tests show otherwise.

Does passing the high-impact resistance test matter? It depends on what hits you. A stone thrown up by a motor mower will be travelling rapidly – so the stronger the protector, the better.

Note: The Australia/New Zealand Standard specifies a full face shield for high-speed impact hazards. If you are doing a job where you might be at risk of a high-speed impact, always use a full face shield. A direct impact to your head at high speeds could kill you.

Hardness and scratch resistance

The frameless specs tended to be harder than the goggles and the wrap-around specs – although the wrap-arounds still got excellent scores for hardness.

• The Blue Eagle was the hardest. It was followed by the Prosafe Ibis and the Uvex X-One. The Samson had substantially softer lenses than the other models.
• The Uvex X-One frameless specs came tops for scratch resistance: they were noticeably less scratched than the others. All the other models did a “good” job.

Splash resistance

• Out of the 14 models, only the Peltor Fahrenheit goggles passed the sprayed-liquid test as per the standard.
• None of the others were well enough sealed around their edges. 

 

We recommend

Frameless spectacles

• 

  MSA Arctic Gold 762267BCF Clear

  $23

  Good points

  Passed all three impact resistance tests. Excellent lens hardness. Good scratch resistance. Anti-fog coating. UV protection.

  But

  No retaining strap holes.

  Availability

  We found them at Equip Safety and Placemakers.

  User Reviews 0
• 

  Blue Eagle Technospec Clear SM-3100C

  $10

  Good points

  Passed all three impact resistance tests. Excellent lens hardness. Good scratch resistance. UV protection.

  But

  No anti-fog coating. No retaining strap holes.

  Availability

  We found them at Carters, Mitre 10 Mega and The Toolshed.

  User Reviews 0
• 

  Bolle Prism Clear

  $25

  Good points

  Passed all three impact resistance tests. Excellent lens hardness. Good scratch resistance. Anti-fog coating. UV protection.

  But

  No retaining strap holes.

  Availability

  We found them at Equip Safety, NZ Safety, and Protector Safety.

  User Reviews 0

Safety goggles

• 

  Peltor Fahrenheit 40170

  $18

  Good points

  Passed all three impact resistance tests. Very good lens hardness. Good scratch resistance. Passed splash resistance test. UV protection.

  But

  No anti-fog coating.

  Availability

  We found them at NZ Safety.

  User Reviews 0