Rank: Forum user 
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I hope someone could help me. We have an operative working on one of our sites. He says he's suffering from migraines, is having difficulty reading when he is at home (phone text messages in particular) and that according to his optician his eyesight is deteriorating all due to the numerous pairs of curved eyewear he wears at apparently a rate of approximately one pair a week. He also suffers from the lenses misting over which also impairs his vision but for differing reasons. We've supplied him, and the rest of them on site, with 'Nevada' glasses. More info here.. http://www.ppekit.co.uk/...info&products_id=323We've used these for years without any problems. Does anyone have any comments about it? cheers.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Are you part of specsavers (the company that is and not youself)
Specsavers do eye test vouchers, and where the results are found that glasses are required, the operative can then get a pair of Safety Glasses Eyewear.
Hope this helps.
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Rank: Super forum user
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This is coming to the front more and more. Operatives forced to wear unwarranted PPE. This is no doubt by the forces of principle contractors insisting that eye protection is mandatory. As a company have had numerous reports of headaches and eyestrain, due to the eye protection being mandatory. Before it starts about supply better, we have with the same results.
The replies from optometrists are the optical class is of the required standard then it must be the eyes degenerating due to normal wear and tear. Unable to disprove or prove this statement.
However, when operatives are put to work where no eye protection is required then symptoms disappear. Within weeks of returning to protection required sites, back to complaints of headaches and eyestrain.
“and that according to his optician his eyesight is deteriorating all due to the numerous pairs of curved eyewear he wears”
I hope that this statement will be backed by the optician. This may then allow your operative to make a claim, which in turn may lead to the principle contractors being brought back to reality about the use of PPE.
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Rank: Forum user 
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EyeSee,
I would be inclined to ask for an optician's report in writing stating that the conclusion and cause is as your employee is asserting. My bet is that the problem will then disappear - it did when I had a similar issue with one guy who didn't like to wear safety glasses and used the "curvature" excuse.
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Rank: Forum user
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I also agree pc are all shouting about wearing eye protection. To be honest it causes more trouble than it protects. I Know what's about to be said ask the man who just lost his eye but should it not be up to the health and safety manager to MANAGER his risk assessment rather than being dictated to to wear eye protection when laying tiles is u/s
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Rank: Super forum user 
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EyeSee wrote:I hope someone could help me. We have an operative working on one of our sites. He says he's suffering from migraines, is having difficulty reading when he is at home (phone text messages in particular) and that according to his optician his eyesight is deteriorating all due to the numerous pairs of curved eyewear he wears at apparently a rate of approximately one pair a week. He also suffers from the lenses misting over which also impairs his vision but for differing reasons. We've supplied him, and the rest of them on site, with 'Nevada' glasses. More info here.. http://www.ppekit.co.uk/...info&products_id=323This doesn't ring true as others have said get written statement from the optician my guess is its all Psycosomatic. my industy has required total compliance for years. No boots, hat, glasses - no site pass- no job no one has issues. Seems to me that the average British worker is an immature ill disciplined wingeing wuss. We've used these for years without any problems. Does anyone have any comments about it? cheers.
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Rank: Super forum user
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My fault, typed in wrong place
Mods can you tidy that up for me please?
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Rank: Forum user
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If its site rules then its site rules but where do we stop someone has to use reasonably practicable
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Rank: Forum user
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IMHO I put the following to you.
First: The world isn't separated into those who need prescription glasses and those who don't. Everyone has a "prescription", only for some corrective lenses are required. An optician once said to me, in answer to this question, that 'they are probably just noticing their own "prescription". Thus causing the headaches.
Second: An optician is not qualified (IMHO) to make the statement that regular, non-prescriptive, safety glasses are the direct cause of any of the symptoms, as described. This would require research and, therefore, proof. The optician in question might find him or herself on the wrong end of some angry correspondence from the manufacturers/suppliers etc.
Third: My industry requires 100%, unconditional, compliance with PPE requirements (glasses, boots, helmet etc.). This rule is not applied on a whim, moreover it is required because anything less would result in the whole house of cards coming down. When the PPE is needed, when it counts, it must be in position. I have a 1" scratch on my prescription safety glasses (put there by a length of re-bar) and had my PPE been in my pocket my eye-ball would be on display, in a jar, on my desk.
Mick
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Rank: Forum user
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EyeSee,
"according to his optician his eyesight is deteriorating all due to the numerous pairs of curved eyewear he wears at apparently a rate of approximately one pair a week"
I think your employee is trying to pull a fast one here. As far as I am aware the above statement is nonsense. Yes you can get headaches and eyestrain if the lenses are not to the correct prescription (for someone who needs to wear corrective spectacles anyway) BUT there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that wearing safety specs makes your eyesight deteriorate.
This is a bit like the other myth that has been doing the rounds for many years: "my eyesight has got much worse since I have been using a VDU". People need reading glasses as they get older, but they think that looking at a monitor all day is damaging their eyes!!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Eye See,
I doubt you operator will get anything from the optician.
The most likely cause of your problem (considering he is going through a pair a week) is the poor scratch resistance of your lenses. If you consider the eye as a muscle it's having to work harder and your operators going to feel it as eye strain.
Do you have a proper cleaning station and lint free cleaning cloths?
Paper tissues are no good as they scratch the lens and compound the problem.
You also need to consider how your anti scratch/mist coating is put on. If it's dipped or sprayed it will damage easily and compound your problem.
I'd suggest you get a more expensive lens as these are more for site inspections rather than practical skills.
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Rank: Forum user
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I always find we never have a problem in the summer when we are giving out tinted, mirror wrap round safety glasses. Completely the opposite as soon as we put a new product out there is a near riot to get them.
No complaints, no headaches, odd when you consider by default the optical quality is less than that of a clear lense.
Maybe i am just a cynic ?
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Rank: Forum user
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Firstly, I would like to state this employee seems to be pulling a fast one! I am not a great fan of those who make mandatory rules such as the wearing of safety eyewear; unless absolutely necessary. Back to the headaches suffered by this employee? As most of us know there are different optical strengths 1 being the best; make sure he hasn't been issued optical strength No 3 as this is not meant to be worn for long periods!
Why on earth is he going through a pair each week?
Although we often have to listen to grievances and be aware of dissatisfaction we must not let the tail wag the dog
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Eye strain can result from a large number of factors. Sure it isn’t considered harmful as such but it can indicate underlying problems and it is very, very uncomfortable if you suffer from it. An employee with eye strain, caused by whatever, can present risks to their work, themselves and others and simply dismssing it as trying it on is unlikely to lead to a resolution. If you prove that it was a try on then deal with it at that point.
So, if you are getting many reports of eye strain it needs to be investigated properly, if it is an isolated case then deal with it on an individual level.
In the example given I would check that the ‘optician’ is an ophthalmic optician (sometimes called an optometrist after the US definition). Only they are properly qualified to make such diagnoses and judgements. High street opticians are not necessarily optometrists. However, like others, I doubt that the reported opinion of the ‘optician’ will have been given; I would still give the employee the benefit of the doubt however. For example, I could understand an opinion that a person has indicators from their examination that means the wearing of bog standard safety specs may not be helpful for them.
It needs tying down with the employee before you can decide on a suitable response
How sure am I that this is an isolated case is the other question I would be asking myself in this situation.
P48
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