You know what a shop atmosphere is like, with sawdust, chips, finishing chemicals, and maybe some steel wool shavings—not eye friendly. Protection is necessary, but because of my near-sightedness, I always muddled through with cumbersome over-the-glasses eye protection. Now, though, I wear safety glasses with prescription lenses from Zenni Optical, an online retailer of prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. These glasses meet the safety standards set by OSHA and the American National Standards Institute.

Zenni does not do your eye exam, so you must already have your prescription. The website is simple to navigate, and customer service is easy to reach, knowledgeable, and helpful. My glasses arrived in about two weeks. As is to be expected, the price will vary depending on your prescription. My prescription cost $70 on top of the base glasses.

There are a lot of different styles to choose from, and you have options for anti-glare and anti-scratch coatings. The particular frame I chose (749618) comes in a few different colors, including black, clear, red, and yellow. The glasses are lightweight and comfortable for long periods in the shop. The weight will vary, though, based on your prescription. The rubber coating on the arms ensures that they stay put, and the frames wrap around to the sides, which provides protection for the entire eye.

—Anissa Kapsales is FWW’s senior editor.

Photo: Miles Molitoris

From Fine Woodworking #295