Sport · Swimming · Workplace
Prescription sports, swimming and safety eyewear in the UAE
Padel courts, football pitches, swimming pools and construction sites all have one thing in common: ordinary glasses are the wrong tool for them. This guide explains the safety standards printed on protective eyewear, which goggles suit which sport, how prescription swimming goggles work and what to ask for when your employer requires safety glasses.
Why everyday glasses are the wrong tool
Dress frames are designed to be light and pretty, not to take a ball at speed. The lenses can shatter inwards, the hinges let the frame fold on impact, and nothing holds them on during a sprint. Sports and safety eyewear address all three: impact-rated lenses, a frame that wraps or seals around the eyes, and a strap or grippy temples. The fact that they can also carry your prescription means no more playing blind or risking your good glasses.
Standards decoded: EN166, ANSI Z87.1 and ASTM F803
The small letters and numbers moulded into protective eyewear are the only reliable guide to what it will withstand.
| Marking | Origin | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| EN166 | European standard for personal eye protection | The frame and lens have passed the basic requirements; additional letters show impact grade (S for increased robustness, F for low-energy impact, B for medium, A for high) and optional properties such as resistance to fogging (N) or scratching (K) |
| ANSI Z87.1 / Z87+ | American industrial standard | Z87 marks basic impact protection; Z87+ means the lens passed high-velocity and high-mass impact tests. Prescription safety lenses carry Z87-2 and the frame is marked separately |
| ASTM F803 | American standard for sports eyewear | Tested with balls and racquets at sport-specific speeds; the marking is what distinguishes a sports goggle from a sunglass that merely looks sporty |
In the UAE you will see all three, because frames are imported from Europe and the United States. For sport, look for ASTM F803; for work, EN166 or ANSI Z87+ depending on what the site’s safety policy specifies.
Sports goggles by sport
- Padel, tennis and squash. A small, fast ball and a racquet at head height make this the sport where eye injuries are most common. A wrap-around goggle to ASTM F803 with polycarbonate lenses is the standard choice; many clubs now require it for juniors.
- Football, basketball and rugby. Elbows and fingers are the threat. Padded goggles with a strap stay put in contact; prescription lenses are glazed directly into the goggle.
- Cycling and running. Wind, dust and sun matter more than impact. A wrap-around sports frame with prescription lenses or a prescription insert, in a tinted or photochromic lens, keeps grit out and vision sharp.
- Cricket, hockey and shooting sports. Specific protective requirements apply; shooting glasses in particular need impact-rated lenses with a tint chosen for the background.
- Children. Kids’ sports goggles come in smaller sizes with softer padding and adjustable straps, and are often the only way a short-sighted child can safely join school sport.
Specialist sports eyewear makers such as Liberty Sport, Demetz and Nano Sport cover most of these needs, and a well-stocked optician can glaze them to your prescription.
Prescription swimming goggles
Prescription swimming goggles solve a simple problem: seeing the clock, the lane end and your children at the pool. Most are ready-made, with each eye available in half-dioptre steps across the common short-sighted range, and a smaller range of long-sighted powers. You choose the step nearest your spherical prescription, typically rounding slightly weaker rather than stronger, and you can order a different power for each eye. Astigmatism is not corrected by ready-made goggles, but moderate cylinder is tolerable in the water. Fully custom goggles that include cylinder exist for serious swimmers. Whichever you buy, rinse in fresh water after every swim, never wipe the inside of the lens, and replace them when the anti-fog layer wears off.
Workplace safety glasses with your prescription
If your workplace requires eye protection, you have three ways to combine it with your prescription.
- Prescription safety glasses. A certified safety frame glazed with impact-rated prescription lenses, with side shields where required. The most comfortable option for all-day wear.
- Over-specs. Safety glasses large enough to wear over your ordinary glasses. Cheap and quick but bulky, prone to fogging and awkward with larger frames.
- Prescription inserts. A small frame carrying your lenses that clips inside a safety goggle or sports frame. Useful for sealed goggles and for frames that cannot be glazed directly.
Prescription safety glasses are made to the same standards as plain ones and the markings should be visible on the frame and lenses; an employer’s safety officer may ask to see them. Opticians who specialise in this area, including Optic One in Abu Dhabi, offer prescription safety glasses certified to EN166 or ANSI Z87+, which covers most UAE site, laboratory and workshop requirements.
Children and sports eyewear
School PE and weekend academies are where most children’s eye injuries happen, and a child who wears glasses faces a choice between playing half-blind and risking a broken frame. A properly fitted sports goggle removes the dilemma. Fit matters more than brand: the goggle should sit flush against the face without pressing on the eye socket, and the strap should hold it in place during a header without being tight.
Frequently asked questions
Can any frame be made into safety glasses?
No. Only frames tested and marked to a safety standard count, even if impact-resistant lenses are fitted into an ordinary frame.
Do polycarbonate lenses make ordinary glasses safe for sport?
They make the lenses less likely to shatter, which is worthwhile, but the frame still offers no protection and will not stay on. For regular sport, use a sports goggle.
Can prescription swimming goggles be made for astigmatism?
Ready-made goggles correct only the spherical power. Custom-made goggles with cylinder are available at a higher price for swimmers who need it.
Will my insurance cover safety or sports eyewear?
Rarely as a sports item. Prescription safety glasses required by an employer are sometimes provided by the employer rather than claimed through health insurance.