7 Best ANSI Safety Glasses for Men and Women

Whenever you are at risk for dust, particles, debris, or even liquids flying into your eyes, you should be wearing a pair of certified safety glasses to protect your vision health.

After researching and testing approximately two dozen safety glasses with ANSI certification in the most diverse situations, we concluded that the 3M Virtua CCS Safety Glasses are the overall best ANSI certified safety glasses that most people will find to be a great choice for their PPE needs. A wraparound design with a removeable foam gasket will give you great protection regardless of your profession.

Safety Glasses	Lens	Frames	ANSI	+
3M Safety Glasses Virtua CCS	Polycarbonate	Plastic	CSA Z94.3-2007 and ANSI Z87.1-2020	Wraparound, Anti-fog, Removable Foam gasket
Solidwork Safety Glasses with Side Protection	Polycarbonate	Polycarbonate-TPR Mix	ANSI Z87+, DIN EN 166 and EN170	Anti-fog, Scratch resistant
NoCry Over-Glasses Workplace Safety Glasses	Polycarbonate	Rubber	ANSI Z87.1+ and CSA Z94.3	Overspecs, UV protection
Dewalt DPG82-11 CTR Safety Goggle with Anti-fog Feature	Polycarbonate	Rubber	ANSI Z87.1+	Goggles, Replaceable lenses, UV protection
RX Safety Prescription Glasses RX-15011	prescription	TR-90 nylon	ANSI Z87.2+ certified glasses	Prescription eyewear
Jackson V30 Nemesis Polarized Safety Glasses	Polycarbonate	Nylon Or gun metal	ANSI/ISEA Z87.1+ and EN166 7.3.1 K certified.	Polarized, 99.9% UVA and UVB protection
Ergodine Skullerz Odin Anti-Fog Glasses	Glass	Nylon	Z87.1+ CSA Z94.3 and MIL-PRF 32432 requirements for ballistics	Anti-fog, UVA, UVB, UVC protection

While safety glasses may be a standard PPE requirement in numerous work environments from construction sites to industrial complexes to hospitals and health organizations, they are incredibly useful in any number of situations for DIY hobbyists or just for mowing the lawn or even cleaning a ceiling fan or lamp.

Our Top ANSI Safety Glasses Choice

1. 3M Safety Glasses Virtua CCS

These safety glasses have a wrap-around design providing you will all-around protection from harmful elements.

A foam gasket that is removable for comfort acts as a seal to protect your eyes from dust and moisture. The foam-lined gasket has airflow vents for comfort.

A long-lasting coating guarantees fog resistance. These 3M glasses meet the High Impact Requirements of CSA Z94.3-2007 and of ANSI Z87.1-2020.

Pros

• • • Wraparound protective design
    • Removable Foam gasket 
    • Anti-fog coating

Cons

• • • Sizes are limited
    • Compatible earplugs sold separately

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Runner Up ANSI Safety Glasses

2. Solidwork Safety Glasses with Side Protection

Lightweight safety glasses built with protective polycarbonate lenses with + anti-fog and scratch-resistant coatings. They are polarized to offer protection from UV rays.

Soft rubber frames with adjustable temples contribute to a perfect fit. Side protection is integrated. Certified for US ANSI Z87+, DIN EN 166 and EN170. A one-year guarantee offers a full refund if not satisfied.

Pros

• • • Adjustable fit
    • Side protection
    • Polarized 
    • Anti-fog
    • Scratch-resistant
    • One-year full refund guarantee

Cons

• • • Tinted lenses may not be ideal when working indoors

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Best ANSI Safety Glasses to Wear Over Prescription Glasses

3. NoCry Over-Glasses Workplace Safety Glasses 

If you want to wear your own corrective eyewear, finding the right pair of safety glasses that are able to accommodate your prescription eyewear and provide you with protection is a must.

These NoCry glasses will protect both your eyes and your prescription eyewear keeping you out of harm’s way from dust, chemical splashes, and flying debris.

They boast ANSI Z87.1+ and CSA Z94.3 rating certification, OHSA approved.  Comfortable and affordably priced.

Pros

• • • Fit over many prescription glasses styles
    • Protection against various substances
    • No vision distortion
    • Affordable

Cons

• • • Not a good fit over very large prescription glasses

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Best ANSI Safety Goggles

4. Dewalt DPG82-11 CTR Safety Goggle with Anti-fog Feature

For those that prefer goggles, the Dewalt anti-fog goggles are a fantastic choice. Lenses are made with polycarbonate ensuring impact resistance.

They offer fantastic protection from dirt, mists, chemicals, and particles. Manufactured with dual mold rubber, the goggles conform well to your face shape. Ventilation channels add comfort.

Lenses can be replaced if desired. They meet ANSI Z87.1+ safety standards.

Pros

• • • Replaceable Lenses 
    • Adjustable head strap
    • Ventilation channels
    • Affordable

Cons

• • • Require more space when storing

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Best ANSI Prescription Safety Glasses 

5. RX Safety Prescription Glasses RX-15011

These prescription safety glasses offer everything you need. They have nylon arms and an adjustable nose piece for added comfort.

A classic style is great for both men and women and can be worn with any face shape or head size. Nylon arms are made in durable thermoplastic but are ultra-flexible.

The ANSI Z87.2+ certified glasses have frames that are rectangular with integrated wrap-around shields for protection from any angle.

Frames are available in several color options including clear, yellow, red, and black. Sizes medium and large.

Pros

• • • ANSI Z87-2+ approved
    • High Rx
    • Great lateral shields
    • Unisex style
    • Adjustable Nose pad

Cons

• • • Bifocal lens may be large for some

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Best ANSI Polarized Safety Glasses

6. Jackson V30 Nemesis Polarized Safety Glasses

These glasses are comfortable for all-day wear. They reduce glare greatly and improve vision clarity. Frames are made from lightweight nylon.

These Jackson glasses reduce 99.9% of UVA and UVB rays giving incredible protection. Both scratch-resistant and impact-resistant. ANSI/ISEA Z87.1+ and EN166 7.3.1 K certified.

Pros

• • • Comfortable
    • Reduce glare
    • Protect peripheral vision
    • Lightweight

Cons

• • • Nose piece may slip 
    • Large for a standard eye case

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Best ANSI Anti-fog Safety Glasses

7. Ergodine Skullerz Odin Anti-Fog Glasses

Featuring flexibility, an adjustable nose piece, and a foam gasket that will reduce dust and particle entry, these are great safety glasses.

Ergodine offers numerous lens coatings and finishes to tailor your safety glasses to your personal needs. There are forty-five different options for working in light, dark or any number of different work environments.

They are ANSI certified at Z87.1+ as well as CSA Z94.3 and MIL-PRF 32432 requirements for ballistics.

Peripheral vision is 99.9% protected from harmful UV rays. Comfortable with additional cushioning thanks to foam inserts they are adjustable for many types of face and head shapes.

Pros

• • • Cushioning additives
    • Lightweight
    • Forty-five options
    • Adjustable

Cons

• • • Adjustment joints can weaken with use
    • Padding wears out quickly

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ANSI Safety Certification

The ANSI (American National Standards Institute) is an independent nonprofit organization that creates guidelines and testing standards for all types of equipment and products used by businesses and industries in every sector. Specific testing procedures for safety glasses are used to determine if the safety eyewear will protect the eyes and the face from impact injuries. 

Standards are then approved and adopted by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). The safety certification for protective glasses is identified by a Z87 marking.

A rating of Z87.1 means that the glasses or goggles meet the ANSI requirements and are acceptable in any work environment where safety glasses are required. These tests are done on safety glasses, safety goggles, face shields, as well as protective eyewear for specific professions like welding.

The Z87.1 certification tests for impact, liquid splashes, optical radiation, dust, and particles. This indicates basic impact while high impact safety certification will be marked as Z87.1+. UVA, UVB, and UVC ratings can be identified separately.

These ANSI ratings have been updated several times since 2003. Revisions took place in 2010, 2015, and 2020. The revisions monitor product performance and take into account international standards as well.

The ANSI Z87.1-2015 revision attempted to help buyers select the best safety glasses according to encountered hazards in the various workplaces. 

The most common risks encountered in the workplace include:

• • • Blunt impact
    • Dust
    • Liquid or chemical splashes
    • Mists and droplets
    • Particles
    • Radiation 

Manufacturers will provide information in their packaging that refers to how their products meet these safety requirements. Safety prescription lenses are also included in the certification if they meet their requirements of high-impact testing.

ANSI Testing

The testing for an ANSI Z87.1 certification include:

• • • Basic impact for lenses and frames separately
    • High impact for lenses and frames together as a single unit
    • Chemical exposure
    • Exposure to non-ionizing radiation
    • Durability to corrosion
    • Durability to flammable

For safety glasses or goggles to obtain the Z87 certification, they must pass the ball drop test. A 2.4-ounce steel ball with a diameter of one inch will be dropped on the glasses from a height of fifty inches.

If the frame and lenses remain intact, these glasses will be certified. For a high-impact test, a 500-gram pointed weight will be dropped onto a head form wearing the glasses from a height of fifty inches.  The glasses must remain intact with no fractures or detaching pieces. 

The high-velocity test will have a 0.25-inch steel ball shot toward the safety glasses at several impact points. For safety glasses the steel ball will be shot at 102 miles per hour, while for safety goggles, the speed will be increased to 170 miles per hour. During the velocity test, the lens must have no contact with the eye or areas surrounding the eye.

UV radiation or ultraviolet radiation is regarded as electromagnetic energy that has wavelengths measured between 200 and 380 nanometers. While this type of measurement is actually quite complicated it has been indicated in two categories for simplicity’s sake and they are far and near.

The far UV rays are defined as optical radiation that has wavelengths measured from 200 to 315 nanometers while near UV rays have measurements from 315 to 380 nanometers.

Beginning as far back as 2010 the ANSI standards require lens and frame markings that are easy to understand. Product rating markings are shown as:

• • • Z87+ indicates that the product has passed high-velocity impact tests
    • Z87 means a basic impact rating
    • Splash and droplet ratings will be identified by D3
    • D4 identifies a dust rating
    • D5 indicates fine dust

Splash resistance will be tested by placing paper with a drawing of the eyes underneath the safety glasses attached to a head form. Then the glasses are sprayed with a liquid. If the paper underneath changes color, the glasses fail the test.

Safety goggles protect the eyes by forming a seal around the eyes to protect them. Many have ventilation systems and openings that allow the air to continue circulating underneath. If the goggles have direct air vents, they will probably fail the splash testing.

Prescription safety glasses will be marked with Z87-2 on both temples and the front of the frame, while a “+” on the lenses means they are impact rated. Z87+ will appear on side shields if the prescription glasses have them. 

All ANSI safety markings must be permanently, as well as clearly marked on frames or lenses. This is also true for safety goggles and face shields. Some safety eyewear may only be marked with the Z87 or simply with the manufacturer’s mark with a “+” added. They have met the ANSI high-velocity requirements but may not have the more recent product markings.

Protecting your eyes is a serious matter. Industry and construction present hazards to eye safety every day, therefore workers must use safety-certified and approved PPE to ensure their vision health.

Further information can be found at the OHSA website, and the Safety Equipment Association or ISEA has a guide for selecting eye protection equipment available for workers.

Other features you should consider when choosing ANSI certified safety glasses or goggles include:

Proper Fit. The best glasses on the market will not do their job of protecting your eyes if they don’t fit correctly. Ideally, you should try on the safety glasses in person, because like prescription eyeglasses, they should fit securely and comfortably on the bridge of your nose and in relation to the width of your face. They likewise should not cause irritation or be uncomfortable while resting on your ears.

Comfort. If you wear your safety glasses during the entire workday or for long extended periods without a break, comfort is important. Tight glasses will be uncomfortable and could cause headaches or localized irritation or pinching.

On the contrary, glasses that fit loosely may not afford you the protection you need. Look for rubber temple pieces or nose pieces to cushion your head and avoid unwanted pain-causing pressure. Adjustable features are also a good choice because they fit comfortably on various head sizes allowing for a minimum of customization.

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Final Thought

As a professional tradesman or worker, or if you do manual work as a hobby, you need protective safety glasses.

We suggest ANSI certified safety glasses to give you the best protection available for your eyes when working. Look for ANSI ratings on the frames and lenses you are considering buying.

Thank you for reading and we hope this article has provided you with information to begin your search.