Eye protection

[stewmo]

I ended up with saw dust in my eye yesterday, sectioning down a beech, it was getting windy so dust flying everywhere...couldn't get it out on site, so went to Minor Injuries. That little piece of wood has scratched about a quarter of my cornea. Feeling ok today, but eye is sensitive.

I wear glasses so have never considered eye protection before, as it's more tricky than just putting on some wrap arounds. I have always avoided contact lenses because I figure it's going to be even worse is you get crap in your eye to go along with the lens.

But now I am wondering what others do - do people even wear eye protection at all - I've never really seen anyone using them, yet we all must get **** in our eyes all time. And particularly others who need glasses/lenses....what do you recommend....can you get prescription eye protection??

 

Cheers

[humpo48]

Always wear eye protection where the risk is high for getting foreign objects in your eyes. I would recommend prescription Oakley safety glasses.

[jrose]

I try and wear safety glasses, although I've lapsed a bit recently.

 

IMO the mesh visors are crap, I'm going to get one of the top gun style flip down glasses at the arb show for my vertex, hopefully they'll get used more!

[Jake Andrews]

They're worse IMO absolutely atrocious in the wet and when sawdust sticks to them, also don't last long and can be costly to replace 2-3 times a year.

[Peter]

Mesh goggles are good in the wet.

 

On windy days positioning yourself upwind of the dust helps, but it's not always possible.

[SPC Trees]

I use ESS ballistic glasses.

 

They're issued to the military so there's plenty knocking around at a good price. They wrap around, have interchangeable lenses and are obviously ballistic.

 

Iv worn them on military operations abroad and for tree surgery, ideal for either.

 

Here an example:

 

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=261904274113

[penfold]

I wear glasses all the time and when I need safety glasses I wear bolle trackers with prescription inserts.

[TTS North]

Bolle trackers - I have two pairs. Dark for bright days and yellow for cloudy ones. Totally keep the rubbish out of your eyes.

 

penfold - how did you get your inserts done to prescription and how much did it cost? Do they work? My inserts are still on the windowsill in the laundry room and I put up with slightly blurry vision.

[Daythe trees]

Sorbus international sell some flimsy looking mesh goggles for about fifteen quid. I got sick of visors breaking and dust blowing around them. They have lasted well and only now after three months are they showing wear around the nose.

 

Downsides; red ring around the eyes from the rubber seal for an hour after wearing, reduce light more than visors so not good in low light, band can slip down over the ears under your ear defenders and end up rubbing your ears.

 

Other than that I think they're bloody brilliant and won't be using anything else until they stop selling them.

[penfold]

TTS, I just went to my optician to get them as they had all my prescription details and are also bolle dealers. I'm not sure what they cost as they were paid for by my employer.