March 2012 marks the return of Workplace Eye Wellness Month, an annual nationwide campaign to raise awareness of work-related eye injuries and how to prevent them through proper vision protection. As a leading provider of premium protective eyewear for occupational applications as well as for military, government and recreational use, Wiley X® is an ongoing supporter of this important initiative.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 25,230 reported eye injuries in one year alone that required time away from work. These statistics not only represent unacceptable human pain and suffering for American workers, but also lost wages and lost productivity. Even more “eye-opening” is the fact that, according to non-profit organization Prevent Blindness America, 90-percent of all eye injuries can be prevented through the use of proper eye protection.

Wiley X’s comprehensive line of protective eyewear is based on the company’s proven High Velocity Protection (HVP™) technology and is designed to protect workers performing a variety of jobs. Wiley X is the only premium performance sunglass brand whose entire line meets the stringent ANSI Z87.1-2003 High Velocity and High Mass Impact Safety standards, providing all wearers with proven OSHA-grade protection. Certain Wiley X models even meet the most stringent U.S. military specifications for eye protection, providing wearers with the same proven ballistic protection worn by America’s brave fighting men and women.
“Many everyday job activities can put your eyes at risk, whether you’re on the factory floor, construction site, automotive repair shop or landscaping job,” said Wiley X Co-Owner Myles Freeman, Jr. “Jobs like these and many others demand serious protection. But they have something else in common, as well.  Protective eyewear won’t help if it’s sitting on a workbench or hanging in a locker. This is why we make our protective eyewear products stylish and comfortable, as well as strong,” added Freeman.

The Wiley X line includes popular Climate Control™ models like the new-for-2012 WX Echo and WX Gravity, along with the popular Climate Control Curve, Rout, Jake, AirRage, Blink and Brick. Each features Wiley X’s patented, removable, soft foam Facial Cavity Seal for a comfortable fit and added protection against wind, dust and debris. Wiley X also offers models from their innovative Changeable Series including the new WX Valor. Each Changeable style comes equipped with versatile lens packages to meet changing light conditions. Several models also meet the military’s highest ballistic impact standards, including the Changeable Series XL-1 Advanced and the SG-1 Goggle. These models meet the updated GL-PD 10-12 MCEP Standard (superseding the MIL-PRF-31013 Ballistic Standard) for state-of-the-art protection in the most challenging environments, and are an ideal choice for protecting the vision of today’s workers.
Almost all Wiley X glasses are prescription ready, making them an ideal choice for workers who require corrective lenses. This capability further protects workers by eliminating the compromise of wearing inferior protective glasses over prescription eyewear.

For more information on Workplace Eye Wellness Month and ways to reduce eye injuries on the job all year long, visit Prevent Blindness America at www.preventblindness.org. To learn more about Wiley X Safety Series protective eyewear — or the company’s complete line of performance protective eyewear for work or play — visit Wiley X, Inc. at 7800 Patterson Pass Road, Livermore, CA 94550 • Telephone: (800) 776-7842 • Or visit online at www.wileyx.com.