We are as tired as you are of trying to decipher the different levels of eye protection listed in the events. What we have done here is given you the 2 types of eye protection that will cover every event, and where to buy them. If you have your own eye protection already and are trying to figure out if it is the right kind or not, we have provided reference information for that as well.

Where to buy glasses (These will cover every event that requires glasses- prices as of 10/1/2010):
Adult size glasses: Available on Amazon for $2.11 + $5.53 Shipping, these are the ones we supply to our event leaders
Youth size glasses: Available on Amazon for $1.25 + $5.63 Shipping

Where to buy goggles (these will cover every event that requires goggles- prices as of 10/1/2010):
Cheap adult goggles: Available on Amazon for $1.55 + $5.15 Shipping
Nice adult goggles (anti-fog): Available on Amazon for $8.99, eligible for free shipping on orders over $25
Youth size goggles: Available on Amazon for $2.95 + $5.95 Shipping
Youth size goggles set of 6: Available on Amazon for $20.64, eligible for free shipping on orders over $25

If you wear prescription glasses, speak to your optometrist about the possibility of ordering prescription safety glasses or goggles. While there are many prescription “adapters” on the market that fit over or around your regular glasses, most of these leave large gaps and do not meet our standards for side shields or venting.  Tell the doctor you need Z87+ wraparounds for glasses, and indirect vent Z87, Z87.1 or Z87+ for goggles.  

GLASSES vs GOGGLES
Glasses are the type of eyewear that looks like regular glasses. They are sometimes called spectacles. Glasses may also have side shields, which means there is a piece on the side of the glasses or they wrap around your face enough to protect your eyes from the side as well as the front.

Goggles are the type of eyewear that suction cups to your face. These can be the American style most people are familiar with, or German style, which has individual suction cups for each eye, sort of like swim goggles.

ANSI rating: Z87 vs Z87+
The ANSI (American National Standards Institute) rating is an impact rating. All safety glasses are rated in some way, and the rating will be imprinted on them somewhere (usually the inside of the side shield on glasses and the front of the lens for goggles). Z87 and Z87.1 are low impact ratings. This means they are capable of resisting the impact of a 25.4 mm (1 inch) steel ball dropped from 127 cm (50 in). Z87+ is a high impact rating. This means they are capable of withstanding having a 500 gram pointed projectile dropped from a height of 130 cm (51.2 in) and also withstand having a 6.35 mm (.25 in) steel ball propelled at them. For more information on the standards, go here.

DIRECT vs INDIRECT
Direct vs Indirect refers to the type of ventilation, used primarily for safety goggles. It only applies to glasses on very rare occasions (see pictures below for example). Direct vent goggles are the more commonly found type in classrooms, usually because they are cheaper. This is the kind you see that has little pinholes perforated all over the top and sides of the goggles. This means that if you splash something, it can go directly through those holes and into your eye. Indirect vent goggles are the kind with the round or square knobs on them. This means if you splash something, it can't get to your eye unless it does some sort of bend and turn to get around the vent hole covers. Please note that if you have indirect vent goggles with a cut or a missing vent cover or if they don't seal around your face tightly then you lose the indirect rating.

Example Eye Protection	Description
	Regular safety glasses- no side shields, no wraparound, frontal protection only.
	Safety glasses with typical side shields
	Safety glasses with side shields that are vented- this is ok as long as the vents are angled so nothing can come straight through them and get to your eye
	Safety glasses with side shields and a top shield. Top shields are not required by any event, but it is perfectly fine to have more protection than is required.
	Wraparound safety glasses- you may want to consider tinted glasses if you are going to be competing outdoors in bottle rockets, but realize this will make it harder to see for indoor events.
	Safety goggles with direct vents (the little pinholes)
	Safety Goggles with indirect vents- common round type
	Safety goggles with indirect vents - large square vents on side
	German style safety goggles- note the foam lining to help seal against your face