As more children return to school in-person, prescription safety glasses can limit the likelihood that they will transfer the new coronavirus from contaminated surfaces to their eyes. Even kids who do not need vision correction may benefit from wearing non-prescription safety glasses and goggles. Learn about the features of the best safety eyewear for kids that could reduce their risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.
Safety Glasses That Have a Seal
Eyeglasses that feature foam padding or rubber gaskets around the edges of lenses are among the best protective eyewear to prevent the spread of pathogens. The American National Standards Institute includes a droplet and splash rating under the Z87.1 safety standard. Glasses that provide this level of protection bear a “D3” marking on frames and lenses and may be effective for limiting aerosolized and direct contact spread.
Parents and guardians who select safety glasses should be aware that children who are not accustomed to wearing glasses or who are provided with eyewear that is not properly sized tend to touch the frames. Any direct contact around the eye area increases the risk of surface transmission, especially if the wearer has recently interacted with a high-touch surface. For this reason, goggles may be a better choice for kids.
Safety Goggles With a Head Strap
Goggles have foam or rubber gaskets around the lenses and edges of frames and are secured with a head strap. This style of eyewear can be the best option for prescription safety glasses or non-prescription eye protection from the virus that causes COVID-19. It is important to factor in the width of goggle frames and lenses as well as whether a style features an adjustable nose bridge. Most head straps can be adjusted. Some convertible frames come with removable straps and temples to allow kids to wear the same pair of frames as glasses or goggles.
The main benefit of this type of protective eyewear is that wearers are less likely to need to adjust the position of a properly fitted pair of goggles. A child should remove this eyewear in a safe environment after the school day is over for cleaning, disinfection and drying. A few of the most popular styles of goggles for kids include convertible styles such as the Bolle Baller and Wiley X Crush. Rec Specs specializes in making colorful goggles. Convertible eyewear and goggles can provide a closer fit that excludes aerosolized respiratory particles and discourages direct contact with the mucosal membranes of the eyes.
Safety Glasses That Have Side Shields
Safety glasses with side shields strike a balance between standard frames and goggles. Side shields are typically worn to provide lateral protection from impact. Youth styles with side, top and bottom shields may also be effective for reducing physical contact, though this eyewear does not form a seal.
Wiley X makes a number of frames compatible with removable or permanent side shields. It is important to note that designs which leave the top and bottom of lenses open do not provide as much protection as convertible glasses or goggles with foam seals or rubber gaskets. For this reason, parents and guardians may prefer eyewear that has the ANSI Z87.1 D3 splash and droplet rating.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend safety goggles for individuals who spend hours in buildings with insufficient ventilation that are located in areas which have moderate to considerable levels of community transmission. It may also be difficult to maintain the recommended physical distance in schools. Parents and guardians should consider supplying children with prescription safety glasses to discourage hand-to-eye contact and reduce the risk of transmitting the new coronavirus.
