Medical protective glasses and visors are essential protectors for all healthcare personnel faced with all types of projections. These protect the area of ​​the face and the associated mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) against splashes, droplets and projections of bodily fluids and thus reduce the risk of infections due to projections of droplets.

Medical protective glasses

Medical protective glasses are designed to protect the eyes from projections or pathogens. There are two types of medical protective glasses:

• branch glasses, with or without side shields or shells, constitute eye protectors, the eyepieces of which, that is to say the transparent parts which allow vision, are arranged in a frame with branches. These do not ensure tightness vis-à-vis the surrounding environment. A distinction is made between two eyepiece glasses and single eyepiece glasses. These can be worn over corrective glasses;
• goggles are eye protectors fitted with one or two eyepieces fixed in a flexible frame enclosing the orbital region. Glasses of this type are held in place by an elastic headband which, when properly adjusted, helps to seal against the surrounding environment. The goggles have a direct or indirect ventilation system, which reduces any fogging. The wearing of corrective glasses is possible under certain models of goggles with single eyepiece.

Medical protection visors

Medical protection visors, also called face shields, correspond to a transparent plastic screen protecting the eyes, the entire face and part of the neck, the indication of which is eye protection. They offer good visibility to the wearer as well as to the patient in the care environment. Attached to a headband, with or without a forehead protector, however, they do not provide a seal against the surrounding environment. Placed on the face when there is a risk of solid particles or liquids being thrown, in particular towards the eyes, they allow easy breathing and protect any eyeglasses. They are an alternative to protective glasses, which are generally less effective against the risk of side projections.

The visors are composed of:

• two main parts: the screen and the upper support or fixing;
• two complementary parts: a comfort foam (optional) at the interface of the visor support with the forehead and a rear binding, generally an elastic band or not), for the back of the head.

Medical protective glasses and visors constitute essential protection for all healthcare personnel confronted with all types of projections.

These allow in particular to:

• protect the facial area and associated mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) against splashes, droplets and projections of bodily fluids;
• reduce the risk of infections due to splashed droplets;
• prevent the wearer from easily or inadvertently touching their face or the mask worn underneath with their hands.

Precautions for use

• lThe visors are not respiratory protection equipment but eye and face protection equipment;
• the cleaning procedure corresponds to the recommendations of the supplier. They generally correspond to those of prescription glasses;
• the products and materials used, as well as the temperature applied, must be non-abrasive and not degrade the material;
• favor an aqueous solution with a detergent.

Medical protective glasses and visors must comply with standard EN 166 “Personal eye protection – Specifications”.

Some models of medical safety glasses have been designed to adjust to each face size, in particular limiting the sliding of the glasses during head movements.

Different materials are used to meet different characteristics and properties:

• natural transparency;
• abrasion resistance (even a simple washing with water can create micro-erosions and cloudy);
• chemical resistance;
• wettability;
• interaction with a droplet;
• surface treatments.

From a comfort point of view, to allow a good adaptation of the protector to the wearer, it is necessary to take into account:

• the presence of adjustable branches;
• the weight distribution of the protector;
• the design of the nasal bridge;
• the presence of a flexible and wide seal on the goggles;
• anti-fog treatment on both sides.