Radiation Leaded Eyewear

One of the most necessary pieces of radiation safety equipment is leaded eyewear, more commonly called laser safety glasses. National and international radiation safety standards require that they be worn when working with or around laser equipment. While skin and internal organs can also be damaged by radiation, the eyes are especially susceptible to even small amounts of laser light. Simply using this type of eyewear regularly and properly can prevent vision damage such as cataracts or even partial blindness.

They have existed for some time now. Shortly after the laser was invented some sixty years ago, people immediately determined that radiation safety would be necessary, especially for the eyes. Eyewear seemed a necessary component of radiation safety, but it was the development of leaded eyewear that finally offered the much needed protection from laser light damage.

Standard utilizes a mask-like design, usually with side shields added for extra protection. Laser light can dangerously penetrate the eyes from any angle, even when accidentally reflected, which is why they must cover the eyes on all sides. The front of them should be at least .75mmPb, whereas the sides fit the safety requirements with as little as .5mmPb. A laser safety officer or the laser's manual should offer the parameters for ordering proper leaded eyewear.

With the help of modern technology, it has become surprisingly lightweight, and even somewhat stylish. Most of them come with sturdy, flexible nylon frames. Manufacturers offer a variety of different styles and colors, so it should be easy to find that you actually don't mind wearing.

Another amazing technological advancement is the ability to manufacture prescription leaded eyewear. By simply passing your regular eyeglass prescription on to the manufacturer, you could have a backup pair of eyeglasses that also offer radiation protection. They can be made to support regular prescriptions for near-sightedness or far-sightedness, and even for bifocal prescriptions.

The most important thing to remember about radiation safety is to be vigilant about it. As easy as it is to them, it is just as easy to go without it. Laser safety standards and laser safety officers only help so much, and the rest is up to us. Remember that laser damage in the body is cumulative and irreversible, so each time you skip the leaded eyewear counts. It would be a shame to have to give up a career, undergo risky eye surgery, or live with damaged vision when laser damage is so easily preventable.