Shooting glasses - How to purchase the best pair for your needs

An informational guide of shooting glasses.

Whether you are a recreational shooter or a competitive shooter, shooting glasses should be used for every shot. The majority of shooting activities take place near the face, it only makes good sense to protect the eyes.

As a shooter, you are facing the possibility of ricochets, various flying objects (such as ejecting shells), wind, glare and dust. With all those possibilities, it only makes sense to use good eye protection that is designed specifically for that activity. Regular sunglasses are better than nothing, you are much better off with a pair of protective glasses specifically produced for shooting.

But when searching for a quality pair of shooting glasses, what considerations do you look at to help make an educated purchase?

Consider reviewing the following components when making your decision:

* Lens Material * Lens Impact Resistance * Lens UV protection * Lens Coverage

Let's look at each one in more detail:

Lens Material - Most of the shooting industry feels that Polycarbonate is the best lens material for protective glasses. Polycarbonate is a type of LEXAN from G.E., which is the same material used for bulletproof glass in autos. This material is so hard that a special diamond grinding wheel must be used to cut the lens. Polycarbonate lenses are lighter, more durable, more impact-resistant and more scratch-resistant than any other lens material on the market today.

Lens Impact Resistance - In light of the application, this is probably the most important factor to be concerned with. 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. Consider choosing shooting glasses with lens that meet or exceed all three standards.

Lens UV Protection - UV radiation is the low frequency light waves produced by the sun. There are three forms of UV rays, but we only need to be concerned with one: UVB. UVB is responsible for sunburn, prolonged eye damage, and most forms of skin cancers. It can (penetrate|go through} thin cloud layers and up to three feet of water. To provide adequate protection, look for shooting glasses that absorb at least 99% of UV radiation.

Lens Coverage - It's imperative that the lens adequately cover enough of the eye area to provide proper protection. 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.

I hope that the information contained in the article were useful, and will help you select the best pair of shooting glasses for your needs.

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