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Clear vision for DIY enthusiasts

Heinz P. is in a hurry. The soccer match starts in five minutes and he wants to finish cutting the last tile or two for the bathroom. He takes his glasses off and puts on his protective goggles. He starts up his electric cutting machine and suddenly lets out a scream. Blood is streaming from a deep cut in his index finger, but Heinz P. is not really sure how it happened. The problem was that he could not see properly what he was doing– but then without his spectacles, how could he?

Anyone who is long-sighted and needs to see clearly while performing dangerous work will benefit from flexible correction lenses. They are simply stuck to the inside of the goggles.

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Anyone who is long-sighted and needs to see clearly while performing dangerous work will benefit from flexible correction lenses. They are simply stuck to the inside of the goggles.

Do-it-yourselfers tend to be rather prone to accidents; in fact 250,000 happen every year in German households. The most frequent injuries occur with sharp or pointed objects, from knocks or falls, or from foreign bodies getting into the eyes. "Many of these domestic accidents could be avoided if DIY enthusiasts not only wore protective goggles but could also see things through them in focus," said Annelie Henter from the Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (German Institute for Safety at Work and Occupational Medicine). Conventional safety goggles do not usually have corrective lenses in them and are worn on top of the actual spectacles, something which many do-it-yourselfers find uncomfortable.

This is where flexible correction lenses made of Bayer's Texin plastic come in. They are only a few millimeters thick and are simply stuck inside the goggles. It gives the wearer the clear vision he needs to make sure his hammer really does hit the nail on the head. "The highly transparent lenses are light as a feather and do not impair the wear comfort of the goggles in any way," said Egbert von Platen, a Bayer Texin expert.

Contact lenses for do-it-yourselfers: Many accidents could be avoided if people were not only to wear goggles but could also see properly through them.

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Contact lenses for do-it-yourselfers: Many accidents could be avoided if people were not only to wear goggles but could also see properly through them.

They are also very rugged, because they are not harmed by unintentional bending or squeezing.

The lenses are available in strengths ranging from +1.25 to +3.00 diopters and are not particularly expensive. "At around DM 80, they cost only about a quarter of what you would pay for protective goggles equipped with corrective lenses," explained Manfred Gründler from the firm Specom, which markets the lenses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

It takes no more than a minute to insert the lenses. Put a few drops of water on them, slide them around on the inside of the goggles until they are in the right position, and then mark the position with a water-soluble felt pen. Then apply two drops of adhesive and press them on. Any adhesive residues can be dabbed off with a normal cloth. The adhesive cures after 24 hours.

Von Platen has another tip for the goggles. "They should be made of a plastic that is particularly tough, does not break or splinter – Bayer's Makrolon, for example. This is the material from which well over 25 billion CDs have been produced and it is also the material of choice for spectacles because it is virtually unbreakable. American testers have even tried to break Makrolon lenses with baseball balls and air gun pallets. But without success."

If you would like to learn from Heinz P.'s experience and see properly through your safety goggles, phone Specom on +49 8121-924866. The lenses are sold in a set together with the special adhesive, cloth and instructions for use.