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Shooters of all kinds require eye protection, whether at
the range or in the field. The majority of shooting activities take
place in close proximity to the face. Facing the possibility of
ricochets, flying objects (ejecting shells, etc), wind, sun and dust,
it only makes sense to use good eye protection. Although everyday
sunglasses are better than nothing, you're much better off with a pair
of protective glasses specifically designed for shooting activities.
But when searching for a quality pair of shooting glasses, what factors do you look at to help make an educated purchase?
For some additional in-depth information on shooting
glasses, you might want to check out one of our other sites called
http://www.shooting-glasses-guide.com.
We'd recommend evaluating the following components when making your decision:
- Lens
- Lens Impact Resistance
- Lens UV protection
- Frame Coverage
- Lens color
- Frames
Let's look at each one in more detail:
Lens
A very important important feature to consider. For
shooting applications, Polycarbonate is the best lens material
available on the market today. Polycarbonate is a type of LEXAN® from
G.E., the same material used for bullet resistant glass in autos. It's
such hard material that a special diamond grinding wheel must be used
to cut the lens. To form the lens itself, the material is melted and
then force injected into a special mold. In comparison, Polycarbonate
lenses are lighter, more durable, more impact-resistant and more
scratch-resistant than any other lens material in today's market. Many
law enforcement and fire agencies are now making polycarbonate lens
standard issue on all protective eyewear. We strongly suggest looking
at polycarbonate lens for your glasses.
Lens Impact Resistance
In light of the application, this is probably the most
important feature to be concerned with. Lens color, fit, etc. are all
important, but they become a mute point if the lens won't properly
protect the eye. Impact resistance ratings are typically standardized
through agencies and groups like Occupational Safety & Health
Administration (OHSA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI),
and the U.S. Military. These standardized rating provide the minimum
recommended impact resistance for safety based lens. Some rating
information from each group:
- OHSA Safety Standard 1910.133(a)(2) requires impact resistant lens
AND "eye protection that provides side protection when there is a
hazard from flying objects."
- ANSI standards for impact resistance are outlined in article Z87.1
and Z87.3. These standards were provided to ANSI by the American
Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and specifically focus on eye safety.
- U.S. Military - The U.S. Military uses a testing standard called
MIL-V-43511C, which is a .22 caliber ballistics impact test. U.S.
Military eyewear must pass this standard before being issued to any
U.S. military personnel.
We'd suggest choosing shooting glasses with lens that
meet or exceed all three standards. If not all three, at least two. We
wouldn't take a chance with any less.
Lens UV Protection
UV radiation is the low frequency light waves produced by
the sun. There are three forms of UV rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC. The
atmosphere filters UV-C, so it is not a real concern.
UVB is responsible for sunburn, prolonged eye damage, and
some forms of skin cancers. It can penetrate thin cloud layers and up
to three feet of water. UVA is the cause of sun related drug reactions.
To provide adequate protection, look for shooting glasses
that absorb at least 99% of UV radiation. Choose shooting glasses with
one of the following labels: "Blocks 99% or 100% of UV rays", "UV
absorption up to 400nm", or "meets ANSI UV requirements." It should be
noted that even clear Polycarbonate lens will block or absorb UV rays,
so don't become focused on the tint as playing a role in the level of
protection.
Lens Coverage
Another crucial element to consider. It's imperative that
the lens adequately cover enough of the eye area to provide proper
protection (See OHSA Standard above). This is especially important for
the side areas of the eye. Look for lens that wrap around past the
sides of the eye for complete coverage.
Lens Color
This really comes down to personal preferences. Lens
today come in a wide range of colors from dark gray or smoke to amber
to purple. Some info on specific colors:
- Smoke, Gray and Gray-Green tints - The most common type of lens
color. They are effective at blocking glare without changing color
perception, making them a good choice for all-weather use. Gray is a
neutral, or "true," color that allows the wearer to see all colors as
they are. Gray shooting lenses do not enhance the target, but they are
good in bright sunlight.
- Amber-Brown lens tints - Especially good at blocking the blue light
commonly found in diffused light such as one might experience on a
cloudy day. Amber can improve both contrast and depth perception, and
is a good all-around choice for shooting or hunting.
- Yellow or Orange tints - Improve contrast and give a sensation of
heightened visual acuity. So-called "Driving" lenses are usually amber
or yellow-brown. Lenses in these hues block haze and blue light and
enhance the orange color of the target. The brighter yellow the lens
color is, the better it is for use at night.
- Purple-Vermillion tints - A light purple color, which is actually a
combination of a neutral gray and a vermilion, is good for enhancing
the orange of the target against a background of tall trees. Vermilion
itself is useful to highlight conditions where there is poor
background, such as trees, and to enhance the target against the
background. If you haven't shot with purple tint glasses, it does take
some getting use to.
Many shooting glasses manufacturers are now offering
glasses with interchangeable polycarbonate lens. Some manufacturers are
now offering glasses packages that come standard with a set of 3
different colored lens. We highly recommend that you take a look at
this option, as you'll be able to get a lens set of colors/tints to
meet the needs of most lighting and atmospheric conditions encountered.
Frames
A few things to consider in frames:
- Frame material - We recommend that you look at frames that are
constructed of a lightweight material like plastic, aluminum, or
titanium. You'll find frames made from those materials much more
comfortable at the end of the day.
- Adjustable frames or flexible temples - Those features will allow
additional fitting adjustments for added comfort. Flexible temples may
also allow you to wrap around the ear in the "cable" style to help keep
the frame in place, and the tips of the temples may feature little
rounded ends, or "balls," to enhance comfort.
- Nose pads - possibly adjustable so that the frame rests in the
optimum position, and should be made of soft silicone material for
additional comfort.
What about prescription lens?
Many quality shooting glasses can be made with
prescription (sometimes called RX) lens to suit most shooters needs.
Today, lens can even be made in specialized configurations such as
bi-focal views. Please realize that these lenses will have to be custom
made by an eye care professional and will not be cheap.
For example, I recently looked at having some
prescription shooting glasses made by Oakley, and was quoted a price of
$385 and some change. Actual prices will vary, so shop around. If you
need prescription shooting glasses, we'll talk about a much more cost
effective solution down below.
What about brands and pricing?
You will find several shooting glasses manufacturers on
the market today. They will cover a very broad range of pricing that
will range from $30.00 - $200.00 for non-prescription, and $200-$450
for prescription lens glasses. We'd encourage you to shop around and
make an educated decision.
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