Prescription safety glasses?

[dobbslc]

My problem is that the second cheaper pair are the same price as the first expensive ones
I have to have the very thinest lenses or they get so thick they won't fit the frames and are very heavy.
I don't want to look like Eddy the Eagle! Keratoconus is what I have and it's hard to get even normal glasses to work without bad distortion and headaches.

 

[Theblackbox]

Just to add these are mine they are actually uvex brand had them for over a year

 

[dobbslc]

I'd love a pair like that!

 

[Morrisman]

I'm getting into trouble on some of the sites I'm working on for not wearing safety glasses / goggles.
I wear glasses normally and can't wear another pair of goggles or glasses over the top of mine as they don't fit well, always steam up and scratch my very expensive glasses.
I have a very high prescription of over -11 cyl and can't find anywhere that gets even close to being able to make a pair of safety glasses for me.
I have had to walk off a very large site before when the ignorant "safety officer" wouldn't accept I can't buy the correct glasses and just kept repeating "go to ARCO they do them". I think my employer will cough up for them (yes I know by law they have to) but at £400 a set it's a lot of money.
I'm fed up of dodging the suits as they wonder around site looking for excuses to talk down to me!
Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do?
I won't mind wearing them if I can get them!
I hate to bring it up and mention the word but am I being discriminated against because I have bad eye sight? I don't do any drilling, cutting, grinding etc I just walk about with a test meter and a clipboard
Maybe @Parm can give me some of his shiny headed wisdom on this subject
Rob

Specsavers did several pairs for me over the years.

 

[dobbslc]

Specsavers can't make normal glasses for me anymore. -6 is their max.

 

[dobbslc]

Specsavers did several pairs for me over the years.

I used to get by one get one free from them but those days are long gone

 

[gaz1]

@gaz1 if I went to glass len's I'd need ratchet straps to hold them up

as a glasses wearer myself would i be right in saying you have those bell bottom glasses to wear

im 20-12 probably changed now so can wear glass lenses

thoughout the building sites that i have been on the health and safety aspect of the site they provide paper masks and also elastic goggles as protection and this is called adequate protection by there health and safety advisors of the companies

have they provided adequate protection for there users, well to be honest no its useless for glasses wearers but we are sackable

the paper masks steam up glasses for fun and covid has really proven this fact to be true for many people who wear glasses

the elastic goggles are the same and even worse if you have to wear a dusk mask

no company will provide the 15.00 half face dust masks

the extra facts shown with covid wont change the regs with paper dust masks and glasses wearer as we are sackable workers

 

[gaz1]

@dobbslc we can use a visor instead with glasses

Site Face Shield Clear - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Lightweight, flip-up polycarbonate visor with adjustable head harness. Protects against liquid droplets and splashes (Grade 3). Protects against impact up to 120m/s (Grade B). FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

i have the trend air pumped foam sided helmet version and dont suffer from steamed up lenses

 

[chrisg3103]

For standard glasses I use www.glassesdirect.co.uk

Just had a look and they only go to 8 on sph, but do say they may be able to go higher and to phone them. My prescription changes every eye test and these folks have saved me a fortune over the years! Not sure about super strength glasses but normal ones I usually get a couple of pairs for about £40 with whatever offers are on at the time

 

[daleyd]

For standard glasses I use www.glassesdirect.co.uk

Just had a look and they only go to 8 on sph, but do say they may be able to go higher and to phone them. My prescription changes every eye test and these folks have saved me a fortune over the years! Not sure about super strength glasses but normal ones I usually get a couple of pairs for about £40 with whatever offers are on at the time

 

[Stueeee]

I've read this thread with interest, just bought a pair of varifocal safety specs from safetyspecs.co.uk. They came to 305 Quid!

Ok, what's yours & mine's eyesight worth? but the thing which I find a bit of a wind up is the 20% VAT on them.

I can't imagine anyone wearing a pair of safety specs in anything other than a workshop or a building site.

 

[tom2207]

Any decent optician should be able to grind any lens to suit a pair of safety frames, I'd be trying another optician!

not actually that easy ,,, only certain frames with deeper mountings an polycarb lenses and a few other rules ,, we send ours out , and most opticians actually send their orders out to a glazing house ,,, or trace and order in precut lenses ,, I was an opticians tech right up to thirty mins ago ,,,

 

[keithski122]

Keratoconus is what I have and it's hard to get even normal glasses to work without bad distortion and headaches.

I also have keratoconus though my prescription isn't too high.I've been having yearly checks at the hospital for the last four years to check that its stable which so far it is, just keep getting told not to rub my eyes which can worsen it. My wife is my optician and was surprised as its fairly unusual for someone my age (50) to get it as its normally found in youngsters.

 

[Turbo]

but the thing which I find a bit of a wind up is the 20% VAT on them.

They are not allowed to charge vat on any PPE equipment!

 

[Olderisbetter]

I hot glued son lenses inside safety glasses for a guy, he got his lense script and an online company made the glasses for £25 then we just used the lenses.

 

[James1979]

They are not allowed to charge vat on any PPE equipment!

Depends how ‘they’ categorise it.

You pay VAT on chainsaw boots and trousers but they are mandatory. Don’t pay on the helmet and ear muffs though.

Not on a motorcycle helmet but you do on gloves and jackets. I think it’s to do with if it can be used for other than PPE. Not sure who goes out in chainsaw boots but there we are!!

That might be the issue with the glasses. They will function as non ppe.

 

[Agrismith]

Not sure who goes out in chainsaw boots but there we are!!

You need to go to the apf or arb show!! Apparently it's normal to go for a day trip in full ppe

 

[James1979]

You need to go to the apf or arb show!! Apparently it's normal to go for a day trip in full ppe

Ahhh Donkfest. Not been for a few years.

 

[bricol]

I've read this thread with interest, just bought a pair of varifocal safety specs from safetyspecs.co.uk. They came to 305 Quid!

Ok, what's yours & mine's eyesight worth? but the thing which I find a bit of a wind up is the 20% VAT on them.

I can't imagine anyone wearing a pair of safety specs in anything other than a workshop or a building site.

Ah . . . I used to get metal framed ones from the options we were given at work - pretty useless to my eyes (ha!) as I thought the slim frames didn't offer enough coverage to provide decent protection - I wore them all the time for reading etc.

I got fed up with the side arms failing, so I've gone for a pair of plastic framed varifocal ones - I think they look horrendous, but if they protect my eyes, all good. My other half, 12 yrs younger than me, says they look "cool" . . .

I also shelled out on my own, non-safety, spectacles for personal use.

 

[stuvy]

You need to go to the apf or arb show!! Apparently it's normal to go for a day trip in full ppe

I hope the suns out