What You Need to Know About Eye Protection

During every dental appointment, your eyes are exposed to various hazards, including airborne debris, bloodborne pathogens, and potentially harmful lighting. You and your team members are at risk for infection or injury, making it critical to invest in protective eyewear.

It’s also important to remember your patients are exposed to the same hazards, Dr. Marie Fluent said, and should have the same levelof protection while in the chair.

“They’re exposed to dental materials like amalgam and pumice, and they’re exposed to lasers and blue light if you’re curing restorations,” said Dr. Fluent, a dental infection control consultant who is passionate about improving infection prevention and patient safety in the dental practice. “Broken instruments and chemicals that can fly up and hit us can also fly down and hit patients.”

Not All Safety Eyewear Is the Same!

So, what types of protective eyewear are best for you, your team, and your patients? To start, lenses should be American National Standards Institute (ANSI) certified and impact resistant, Dr. Fluent said. But they also must fit properly. Protective lenses won’t do much good if there are gaps, or if they keep sliding off your face as you work.

Most dentists assume all safety lenses are adequate, Dr. Fluent said, but that simply isn’t true. When investing in eyewear for yourself, she suggests trying them on to ensure comfort, fit, proper coverage and excellent optics.

“Make sure there are no gaps around the perimeter of the eye, particularly in the lower rim,” Dr. Fluent said. “There shouldn’t be gaps where debris can fly up and hit you in the eye. Select eyewear with full coverage, side protection and no gaps that is impact resistant.”

In addition to these features, ProVision Secure safety eyewear also has an anti-fog coating and foam insulation that offers ventilation for comfort while protecting against spray, splashes, and splatter, Dr. Fluent said.

It’s important to keep various sizes on hand for your patients, as protective equipment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Palmero’s ProVision line comes in various options to fit all face shapes and sizes, including narrow, medium, and pedo, with eyewear for both practitioners and patients.

Eyewear doesn’t last forever, making cost an important factor, Dr. Fluent said. Palmero's ProVision eyewear is affordable, comfortable, and effective.

Protecting Your Youngest Patients

Keep in mind there are unique considerations for children, Dr. Fluent said. For example, children’s eyes are more susceptible to blue light, so if you’re using a curing light, amber lenses are a must.

“The lenses in their eyes are less developed and more transparent; they don’t filter against blue light as effectively as an adult,” she said. “This allows more blue light to reach the retina, which could cause damage.”

Children also have smaller heads, Dr. Fluent said, so adult frames won’t necessarily fit—leaving their eyes exposed. Palmero's ProVision Rainbow Minis include smaller, multicolored pedo options, giving children a choice of what color to wear during the appointment.

Dr. Fluent also suggested using ProVision's Flexiwrap as the design is for the patient in the supine position, with shorter and soft temples of the eyewear ensuring a proper, comfortable fit. Palmero offers the Flexiwrap in grey and clear lenses.

An Option for Everyone

Just like with eyewear, some loupe manufacturers tend to focus on optics (critical, of course) and style, but don’t necessarily think about safety. Many loupes, for example, have large lower gaps and no side protection, Dr. Fluent said. Palmero's ProVision Econo Loupes are a comfortable, cost-effective option that offers optimal protection and a proper, gap-free fit.

“The loupes provide magnification over the entire lens,” she said, “so you can see the operative field better.” Palmero also offers ProVision EZ-Focals, Dr. Fluent said, which is the same idea as the loupes but in a bifocal. She also likes Dynamic Disposables Snapeez Face Shields, as they completely protect against splatter and spray and can accommodate loupes.

“Palmero's ProVision safety eyewear line really is effective,” Dr. Fluent noted, “and there really is an option for everyone.”