If you wear prescription glasses at work, finding compliant eye protection is genuinely annoying.
Standard safety glasses do not fit over most prescription frames. Prescription safety glasses are expensive and require a separate pair for every job. Contact lenses are not practical on a dusty site. It is a problem a lot of tradespeople and site workers run into and do not always know how to solve properly.
The short answer is over-spectacle safety glasses. The longer answer is that not all of them are worth buying. This guide explains what to look for, what the standards mean, and why the Portwest PS30 is the one we stock and recommend at Hamtons Direct.
What are over-spectacle safety glasses?
Over-spectacle safety glasses (also called over-specs or OTG safety glasses, short for over-the-glasses) are designed with a wider, higher frame that sits around and over a standard pair of prescription spectacles. You keep your prescription glasses on underneath. The safety glasses go on top.
Done properly, the result is compliant eye protection that still lets you see clearly. Done badly, you get a pair of cheap plastic glasses that fog up, press painfully on your temples, and fall off every time you bend down.
The fit is everything. The arms need to be adjustable enough to accommodate the extra width and depth of the prescription frame underneath. The lens needs to be wide enough that it does not press the sides of the glasses into your face. And the whole thing needs to actually stay on.
Do they have to be CE certified to count as PPE?
Yes, if you are using them as workplace PPE. This matters more than most buyers realise.
Under UK law, Personal Protective Equipment used in the workplace must comply with the UK PPE Regulation 2018 (SI 2018/390). For eye protection specifically, that means the product needs to meet the requirements of EN ISO 16321 (the current occupational eye and face protection standard) and carry a UK Declaration of Conformity or CE marking.
If a risk assessment says eye protection is required on your site and a worker is wearing non-certified glasses, that is a compliance issue for the employer. The fact that the glasses look similar to certified ones is not a defence.
A lot of cheap over-spectacle glasses sold online carry no meaningful certification. They might say UV protection on the packaging but have no CE mark, no UKCA mark, and no Declaration of Conformity. For DIY at home that is a personal choice. For any workplace use, it is a problem.
The Portwest PS30 - what makes it different
The Portwest PS30 is Portwest's dedicated over-spectacle safety glass. Portwest has been manufacturing PPE for over 100 years and supplies safety equipment to workplaces in more than 150 countries. The PS30 is not a budget product with a sticker on the box. It carries genuine compliance documentation.
View the Portwest PS30 at Hamtons Direct - free UK delivery.
The features that actually make a difference in day-to-day use:
- Inclinable and extendable arms. The side arms adjust both in angle and in length. Most cheap versions have fixed arms that either press your prescription frames into your temples or sit so loosely they fall off.
- Wide panoramic lens. Single piece polycarbonate lens with moulded side shields. You get a proper field of vision without blind spots at the edges.
- Integrated brow guard. Provides overhead protection as well as frontal and lateral coverage.
- Anti-scratch coating. The coating extends the useful life considerably and keeps the optical clarity intact.
- 99% UV protection. Relevant both outdoors and in environments with UV-emitting equipment.
- Lightweight construction. Polycarbonate and nylon. Light enough to wear all day over a pair of prescription glasses.
What the standards actually mean
The certification list on the PS30 is longer than most. Here is what the key ones mean in plain language.
| Standard | What it covers |
| EN ISO 16321 | Current European and international standard for occupational eye and face protection. |
| EN 166 1 FT | General requirements for personal eye protection including resistance to high-speed particles and fogging. |
| EN 170 2C-1.2 | Ultraviolet filters. Confirms the level of UV protection provided by the lens. |
| EN 172 5-3.1 | Solar protection for industrial use. Relevant for outdoor work in direct sunlight. |
| ANSI/ISEA Z87+ | US standard for occupational eye and face protection. |
| AS/NZS 1337.1 | Australian and New Zealand standard for eye protectors. |
Who is the PS30 actually for?
Anyone who wears prescription glasses and works in an environment where a risk assessment requires eye protection. The PS30 is regularly used in construction, engineering workshops, laboratories, landscaping, woodworking, metalwork, plastering, and DIY at home.
It gives you certified protection without needing to remove your glasses or buy a second pair.
Common questions
The Portwest PS30 is in stock at Hamtons Direct.
Clear lens. CE and UKCA certified. Free UK delivery. Hundreds of verified five-star reviews from UK buyers.
View the Portwest PS30 at Hamtons Direct
