Download a PDF of Eye Protection Via Rx Safety Programs.

NEW YORK—Thousands of eye injuries happen every day, spanning accidents at home, in amateur or professional sports or in the workplace. In fact, Prevent Blindness estimates that eye injuries in the workplace are very common. More than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day. About 1 in 10 injuries require one or more missed workdays to recover from. Of the total amount of work-related injuries, 10 percent to 20 percent of those injuries will cause temporary or permanent vision loss.

Experts believe that the right eye protection could have lessened the severity or even prevented 90 percent of eye injuries caused by accidents. Injuries from flying objects, tools, particles, chemicals, harmful radiation and more, are involved.

And, since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the eyewear (plano and Rx) safety market saw a major upsurge in people recognizing the need to protect their eyes in health care settings and other personal contacts to prevent the spread of infection.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NOSH) offers a range of information, helpful guidance and practical information for workplace safety at their website here (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/index.htm).

For optical retailers and independent eyecare professionals, though, the opportunity to take part in helping employers protect their workers with the right prescription safety eyewear remains a major practice enhancer and bottom-line opportunity. Major Rx Safety suppliers and laboratories across the country take part in programs that enable eyecare professionals to serve the needs for those workers who must see well to do their jobs safely, to protect injury or infection.

Taking part in Rx Safety with many turnkey programs offered by labs and suppliers can help create a distinct specialty for practices in their local and regional communities, eyewear safety executives agree.

On these pages, VM highlights just some of the leading Rx Safety eyewear programs and offerings available.