How Protective Eyewear Has Changed Dramatically Over the Decades

Protective eyewear has come a long way since it was first invented in 1880. P. Johnson's patented "eye protector" used two layers of semi-opaque cloth. His goal was to have firemen, furnace-men, and others exposed to bright lights use them to reduce the intensity. However, his "eye protector" did not yet offer any impact protection. Today, safety eyewear is worn by those working in the manufacturing, construction, and medical industries to protect their eyes from impact, particles in the air, glare, and, in some cases, harmful ultraviolet light rays. In honor of National Safety Month, presented is an overview of the history of vision protection leading up to 2017, where recent and continued advances in safety eyewear -- from style and fit to functionality -- give great reasons for workers to want to wear modern day protective eyewear. Eye protection is vital to safeguard your eyes and maintain healthy vision across a wide variety of jobs.