What are the Benefits of Wearing Safety Glasses When Shooting?

Shooting is a hobby that is enjoyed by millions of people across the globe. Shooting sports are an excellent way to get your adrenaline pumping, improve your accuracy and focus, and connect with other people who share your interests.

But even though shooting can be a lot of fun, some risks are involved. If you don’t wear safety glasses when shooting, there’s a chance that a stray bullet could hit you in the eye and cause permanent damage.

There are many benefits associated with wearing safety glasses when shooting. In this article, we’ll discuss the following: 

Eye Protection Standards

When gauging the effectiveness of eyewear for shooting, one of the most important considerations is ballistics protection. Ballistic eyewear should be able to protect your eyes from small projectiles and fragments. Shooting glasses highlighted through practical deployment by the U.S. military and other professional law enforcement officers are usually effective.

This is why the Army Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL) exists. The APEL lists eye protection products tested to meet ballistic protection requirements for use in the U.S. military. If you’re just a civilian looking for a good pair of glasses for shooting, consider buying glasses in the APEL.

There are Quality Standards used for Testing the Effectiveness of Ballistic Shooting Glasses:

1. ANSI Z87.1 Standards (U.S. Civilian Standard)

Shooting glasses that pass the ANSI Z87.1 Standards are tested to offer impact or non-impact protection from hazardous objects such as mist, dust particles, and splashing. A product marked with the Z87 code without the plus sign only passed the non-impact requirements. In contrast, a product that complies with Z87+ ANSI standards has passed all high-impact test requirements.

2. U.S. MIL-PRF-31013 Standards (Military Ballistic Impact Standard)

The glasses must withstand a .15 caliber 5.8-grain projectile or a T37 shape at a velocity of 639-661 feet per second. They must also be protective from harmful U.V. rays, resistant to chemical wear, and maintain protective properties at varying temperatures and humidity levels.

3. MCEPS GL-PD 10-12 Standards (Ballistic Standard)

The current standard is from the Military Combat Eye Protection Systems (MCEPS), superseding the MIL-PRF-31013 Standards. Products that pass this standard have been tested for ballistic fragmentation, more intense than ANSI’s, which simulated projectiles and dangers faced in real combat.

4. EN166 Standards (European Standard)

If you’re looking for a pair of good shooting glasses, the EN166 standard is a decent quality indicator. The EN166 standard rates ballistic protection from impact, including increased robustness and low, medium, and high energy impact. The highest protection levels under the EN166 standards are marked with the letter A. This means that the shooting glasses can offer protection from a 0.86 gram, 6 mm steel ball hitting at a velocity of 190 meters per second.

Why Wearing Safety Glasses is Beneficial for You When Shooting?

Sport shooting.The woman at theshooting range shot from a rifle while safety gears

If you’re a gun enthusiast, you know how important it is to wear eye protection when shooting. It’s not just a matter of safety; it’s also a matter of protecting your vision.

But what kind of eye protection should you wear? There are many options out there, but one that’s particularly popular with shooters is the safety glasses. They offer great protection and allow you to see clearly while still looking like a pro!

So let’s take a look at some of the benefits of wearing safety glasses when shooting:

1. Prevents Eye Injuries

Shooting is a great way to spend your time, but there are some things you need to keep in mind. One of them is eye injuries.

Shooting can be dangerous; if you don’t take the proper precautions, you could get an eye injury. When shooting, the gunpowder can fly around the room like little bullets. This can get into your eyes and cause damage to your cornea.

Safety glasses are designed to protect your eyes from this damage by blocking them out before it gets too close. If you don’t wear safety glasses while shooting, there is a chance that the gunpowder will hit your eyes and cause permanent damage to them.

Luckily, wearing safety glasses can prevent this from happening!

2. Protects You from Vision Loss

If you’ve ever shot a gun, you know that safety glasses are important. Not only do they protect your eyes from any flying debris or stray bullets, but they also help keep your eyes safe from vision loss.

Safety glasses are more than just a fashion statement—they can make the difference between being able to see clearly and not being able to see.

If you’ve ever been hit in the eye with something small and hard, like a piece of metal or wood, you’ll likely have some vision loss afterward. You might even need surgery or corrective lenses to get your vision back. This is why it’s so important to wear safety glasses when shooting—it helps prevent injuries like these from happening!

3. Provides Better Vision

If you’re a shooter, chances are you know the benefits of wearing eye protection. But did you know that wearing safety glasses can make your vision clearer?

Safety glasses provide a secure barrier between your eyes and any hazards on the range. That means that when you’re shooting, you don’t have to worry about getting dust or dirt in your eyes—which can cause irritation and headaches.

But beyond that, safety glasses also help protect against glare. Glare is when light bounces off an object and into your eyes, making it hard to see. When you shoot while wearing safety glasses, they block out any glare from sunlight or other light sources so that it doesn’t interfere with your vision. This makes it easier to focus on what’s in front of you.

4. Helps to Improve Your Performance

Safety glasses are designed to withstand high-velocity impacts, including those from flying lead or steel bullets. They can also help prevent debris from getting into your eyes when shooting at close range. When you wear safety glasses, you’ll see more clearly because they don’t fog up as easily as regular glasses do when exposed to sweat or moisture from your breath. This means you won’t have any issues with eye strain after long practice sessions!

Wearing safety glasses improves your shooting performance because they allow you to focus on your target instead of worrying about protecting yourself from injury. You won’t have to worry about whether or not your vision will be blurred after being hit by dust particles or other debris while firing off rounds at the range. 

Conclusion

Shooting is a fun hobby—and a great way to get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and do something fun with friends. But if you’re not wearing safety glasses, it can also be dangerous.

Safety glasses aren’t just a good idea: they’re really important. They protect your eyes from debris, dust, and other projectiles. This means you’ll be able to keep enjoying shooting without worrying about your vision or eye injuries.

With all the benefits of shooting with safety glasses, there’s no reason not to wear them. If you’re looking for a new way to improve your game, look no further than the benefits of wearing safety glasses when shooting!