Safety and Sport

Safety glasses aren’t just for factory or construction workers. In fact, nearly half of all eye injuries happen at home. Over 100,000 of eye injuries each year occur doing everyday activities like mowing the lawn or home improvement projects. An estimated 90% of those injuries could have been prevented with proper safety eyewear.

Prescription safety glasses protect your eyes from injury by forming a barrier against heat, light radiation, glare, dust, and debris. These glasses satisfy OSHA standards for indoor and outdoor use and can be custom-built for your needs. At Grand Rapids Ophthalmology, we can help you find the right safety glasses that meet OSHA standards.

Check out this helpful report from The Vision Council and the American Society of Safety Engineers for more information.

Can I Just Wear Prescription Eyeglasses in Place of Protective Safety Glasses?

No, prescription eyeglasses and safety glasses are not the same. Safety glasses are constructed differently and are designed to protect your eyes from hazards like debris or particles. Prescription safety glasses must meet strict standards from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). To meet OSHA standards, safety glasses must meet strict standards from the ANSI.
Ordinary prescription eyeglasses do not provide adequate protection against workplace hazards. Using them instead of safety glasses puts your eyes at risk.

Are Safety Glasses Bad for Your Eyes?

Some workers worry that looking through plastic lenses all day strains their eyes. They even believe it could cause future vision problems. This is not the case. Safety eyewear protects your vision from occupational hazards. Any strain and fatigue experienced while wearing safety glasses are from other factors. This can be due to ill-fitting glasses, scratched lenses, improper tints, or poor lens quality and optical clarity.

If your safety eyewear is causing you discomfort, come to Grand Rapids Ophthalmology. We will fit you with a quality pair that will make you instantly see the difference.

Are Prescription Safety Glasses a Legal Requirement?

Protective eyewear is required by OSHA when employees are exposed to job hazards. This is the case for chemical gases, flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, vapors, light radiation, acids, or caustic liquids.

Instead of prescription safety eyeglasses, your employer can provide you with safety eyewear that is designed to go over your regular glasses. These can be bulky and uncomfortable. As a result, many people come to Grand Rapids Ophthalmology looking to buy prescription safety eyeglasses.

What is the Cost of Prescription Safety Glasses?

The price may vary depending on what types of lenses you need for the work you do, but the protection is priceless. Also consider that eye injuries account for about $300 million per year in medical bills, compensation, and downtime.

Does an Employer Have to Pay for Prescription Safety Glasses?

An employer is not required to cover the expenses of non-specialty safety glasses in two cases: if the worker uses them off the job site, or is if the worker uses them for personal use.
Employers may also choose to provide acceptable alternatives, including goggles designed to fit over prescription eyeglasses.

The only case where an employer legally must pay for prescription safety glasses is when the glasses must remain on company property.

Many employers have employee programs that pay for part of the cost of prescription safety glasses. Speak to your employer or HR department for more details.

Does Grand Rapids Ophthalmology Stock Safety Glasses?

Yes, we have an extensive stock of OSHA-approved safety eyewear for you to choose from. Lenses are formulated to prevent eye damage from occupational eye hazards you face.

Many large industrial companies already have safety accounts set up with us. This makes getting your safety eyeglasses easy.

Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our optometrists. If you need prescription safety glasses or safety eyewear, you have come to the right place.

Sports Glasses and Goggles

Thousands of sports-related eye injuries happen every day, and about two thirds of those occur in children and young adults under age 25. Protective sports glasses and goggles keep eyes safe from injury and improve athletic performance. They have the added benefit of protecting eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. We can customize a solution that is best for your activity, whether it’s on the course, court, field, lake, road, slopes, or in the pool.

We offer prescription sports glasses and goggles for children and adults, and we will be happy to help you choose the right style for your activity.

Schedule an Appointment

Schedule an appointment today to experience the GRO difference. Call 616.588.6598 or click here.

Our Locations

Grand Rapids Ophthalmology is pleased to provide top-quality, comprehensive eye care to our patients in the Greater Grand Rapids area. We have 15 conveniently located eye care centers that utilize the latest and most advanced technologies across the entire spectrum of ophthalmology. If you are seeking information about one of our eye care locations please click into our locations page for more information. Hours are subject to change due to upcoming Holidays.

East Beltline Map
East Beltline
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology
East Beltline Medical Center
750 East Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(Located on the Southeast corner of East Beltline and Bradford - enter from Bradford)
616.588.6598
Hours
M, W, Th, F: 8am – 5pm
Late Night – T: 8am – 7pm
Sat: 8am – 11am
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 8am-5pm
Grandville Map
Grandville
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology
Rivertown Office Center
4475 Wilson Ave SW
Grandville, MI 49418
(Located on the Northwest corner of 44th St/Rivertown Pkwy and Wilson - enter from Wilson)
616.588.6598
Hours
Tu, W, F: 8am-5pm
Late Nights – M, Th: 8am-7pm
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 8am-5pm
Walker Map
Walker
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (Located on the upper level)
3300 Walker View Dr
Walker, MI 49544
(Located North of Walker Avenue exit on I-96 – enter on the upper level)
616.588.6598
Hours
M, T, Th, F: 8am-5pm
Late Night – W: 8am-7pm
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 8am-5pm
80 68th map
Cutlerville
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology
Corewell Health Care Center
80 68th St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49548
(Located inside the Corewell Helath Care Center on the corner of 68th St and Division)
*Please note there is no exterior signage showing Grand Rapids Ophthalmology at this time.
616.588.6598
Hours
M, W, Th, F: 8am-5pm
Late Night – Tu: 8am-6pm
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 8am-5pm
7 mile map
Rockford
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology
Mercy Health Campus
6050 Northland Dr NE, Suite 100
Rockford, MI 49341
616.588.6598
Hours
M, W, Th, F: 8am-5pm
Late Night – Tu: 8am-7pm
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 7am-5pm
Caledonia
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology
Mercy Health Campus
10047 Crossroads Ct SE
Caledonia, MI 49316
616.588.6598
Hours
M, Tu, W, Th, F: 8am-5pm
Closed 12pm-1pm daily
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 8am-5pm
caledonia map
lakeshore map
East Grand Rapids
Lakeshore Eye
717 Bagley Ave SE
East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
616.588.6575
Hours
M-Th: 8am-5pm
F: Closed (until December 1, 2023)
holland map
Holland
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology
Lakeshore Medical Campus
3235 N Wellness Dr, Suite 130
Holland, MI 49424
(Located ¼ mile East of US-31 on the left)
616.994.0477
Hours
M, W, Th: 8am-5pm
F: 7:30am-3:30pm
Late Night – Tu: 8am-7pm
Phones answered Mon thru Thurs 8am-5pm & Fri 7:30am-3:30pm
ionia map
Ionia
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology
537 W Main St
Ionia, MI 48846
616.527.1640
Hours
M, W, Th, F: 8am-5pm
Late Night – Tu: 8am-7pm
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 8am-5pm
Greenville map
Greenville
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology
705 S Greenville W Dr. #Suite 201
Greenville MI 48838
616.754.5667
Hours
M: 7:30am-6pm
Tu, W: 7:30am-4:30pm
Th: 8am-5pm
F: 7:30am-4:30pm
Standale
511 Wilson Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
616.301.8663
Hours
M, W, Th, F: 8am-5pm
Late Night – T: 8am-7pm
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 8am – 5pm
Michigan optical map
GRO Surgical map
GRO Surgical Center
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology Surgical Care Center
750 East Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(Located on Southeast corner of East Beltline and Bradford – enter on the second floor)
616.588.6598
Hours
M, TU, W, Th, F: 8am-5pm
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 8am-5pm
walker surgical map
Walker Surgical Center
Walker Surgical Center
3300 Walker View Dr
Walker, MI 49544
(Located North of Walker Avenue exit on I-96 – enter on the lower level)
616.588.6570
Hours
M, Tu, W, Th, F: 6am-5pm
Phones answered Mon thru Fri 6am-5pm
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