Prescription Tactical Glasses

Safety glasses are manufactured and rated to protect your eyes from chemicals and debris in a variety of segments. Regular safety glasses are ANSI Z87 approved, which means they meet the typical industry safety requirements. However, ballistic rated glasses protect your eyes to a higher caliber. Ballistic glasses are manufactured and rated to protect your eyes against projectiles with a higher speed than typical industrial debris. Therefore, ballistic glasses are made for tactical workers that are exposed to high intensity environments, or those who are frequently inside the shooting range.

MIL-PRF-31013 and MIL-DTL-43511D are both military standards for protective eyewear, but they cater to different levels of impact resistance and are designed for slightly different use cases.

1. MIL-PRF-31013:
   • Focus: This specification primarily addresses safety glasses and is more commonly used for standard military and tactical eyewear.
   • Impact Resistance: The key test for MIL-PRF-31013 is the high-velocity impact test, which involves shooting a quarter-inch steel ball at the lens at a speed of 650 feet per second.
   • Applications: It’s typically used to assess the performance of eyewear that will be used in various military operations where high-speed flying objects or fragments are a concern.
   • Other Requirements: This spec also includes criteria for optical quality, durability, and comfort.
2. MIL-DTL-43511D:
   • Focus: This specification is generally for goggles and heavier-duty eye protection.
   • Impact Resistance: MIL-DTL-43511D has a more rigorous impact test, known as the “military ballistic impact standard test.” It involves a 0.15-caliber, 5.8 grain, T37 shaped projectile shot at 640 to 660 feet per second.
   • Applications: It’s designed for situations that require a higher level of protection, such as in extreme combat conditions, where the risk of larger projectiles and debris is higher.
   • Other Requirements: Like MIL-PRF-31013, it also covers optical quality and compatibility with other military equipment but places a stronger emphasis on more robust environmental and ballistic protection.

In summary, while both specifications ensure a high level of protection and optical clarity, MIL-PRF-31013 is more focused on standard protective glasses with high-velocity impact resistance, and MIL-DTL-43511D is tailored towards goggles with higher ballistic impact resistance, suitable for more extreme conditions.

ANSI Z87+ rated glasses will protect your eyes against high-velocity debris. However, for shooting glasses we recommend the MIL-PRF-31013 or MIL-V-43511C rated frames. These are the military ballistic standards, and are ideal for shooting ranges and higher velocity projectiles.

Ballistic rated glasses are designed to provide a level of impact protection beyond common industrial safety standards. Those who work as law enforcement, first responders, military personal, and all tactical forces benefit from ballistic rated glasses. These consumers may be exposed to projectiles with a higher speed than typical industrial debris. Simply put, ballistic rated glasses are designed to resist higher intensity environments than your typical safety glasses.

MIL-PRF-31013 is a critical military specification that sets stringent standards for ballistic-resistant protective eyewear used by military personnel. This specification focuses on ensuring that eyewear can withstand high-velocity impacts, a necessity in combat and training scenarios where soldiers are exposed to shrapnel and ballistic fragments. The testing methods defined in MIL-PRF-31013 assess the eyewear’s ability to resist such high-speed projectiles.

Additionally, this specification mandates high standards for optical quality. It ensures that while offering robust protection, the eyewear does not impair the wearer’s vision, maintaining clarity and minimal refractive or prismatic distortions. This dual focus on protection and visual clarity is crucial, as it enables soldiers to perform effectively without visual hindrance while being safeguarded against potential eye injuries.

MIL-PRF-31013 is part of a broader suite of military specifications that ensure the safety and efficacy of equipment used in various military operations, highlighting the importance of quality and performance in military gear.

MIL-DTL-43511 is a military standard (often called MIL-SPEC) that specifies the requirements for ballistic eye protection used by the U.S. military. This standard is essential for ensuring the safety and performance of protective eyewear, such as goggles, used in military operations.

Critical aspects of MIL-DTL-43511 include:

1. Ballistic Resistance: Eyewear must withstand the impact of specific projectiles without shattering or penetrating the lens. This ensures the eyes are protected from high-speed debris or fragments encountered in combat or training environments.
2. Optical Quality: The standard includes requirements for clarity, ensuring that the lenses do not significantly distort vision, which is crucial for performance in tactical situations.
3. Durability and Comfort: The eyewear must be durable under various environmental conditions (like temperature extremes and exposure to chemicals) and comfortable to wear for extended periods, as military personnel often operate in challenging environments for long durations.
4. Compatibility: The goggles or eyewear should be compatible with other military equipment, such as helmets, night vision devices, and weapon sights.
5. Fog Resistance: To maintain clear vision in different climates and during intense physical activity, eyewear often includes anti-fog features.

Compliance with MIL-DTL-43511 is essential for manufacturers producing protective eyewear for the military, as it ensures that the products meet the rigorous standards required for the safety and effectiveness of military personnel.

The Z87+ rating is designed for industrial protection. The ANSI Z87+ rating indicates that the safety glasses or lenses are high-velocity impact rated. In other words, they must withstand impact from small, fast-moving projectiles and fragments. If you are looking for a ballistic rated pair of glasses, the ideal certification to have is MIL-PRF-31013. Military ballistic ratings are much more stringent. Even though the ANSI standards are similar, MIL-PRF-31013 testing produces almost 7 times more impact energy than the ANSI Z87+.

No, regular safety glasses are not suitable for military officers and law enforcement personnel. The specific demands and hazards of military and law enforcement environments require eyewear that meets higher standards of impact resistance, ballistic protection, and environmental durability than standard safety glasses provide. Regular safety glasses typically do not fulfill the stringent requirements for protection, compatibility with other equipment, and optical clarity needed in tactical and combat situations. It’s essential for military and law enforcement personnel to use protective eyewear that is specially designed, tested, and certified for their challenging and often hazardous operational conditions. Recommended Military or Law Enforcement glasses need to have the US military standard MIL-PRF-31013 certification.

Although ANSI Z87+ standard certifications indicate that the glasses are high-velocity impact rated, the recommended shooting glasses are those with the U.S military standard MIL-PRF-31013.

Military glasses, also known as tactical or ballistic eyewear, are protective glasses designed for the rigorous demands of military use. Their key features include:

1. Ballistic Protection: They meet strict standards like MIL-PRF-31013, ensuring resistance to high-velocity impacts typically encountered in combat.
2. Durability: Made with robust materials to withstand harsh environments and rough handling.
3. Optical Clarity: Provide clear vision without distortion, which is crucial for operational effectiveness.
4. UV Protection: Protect eyes from harmful UV radiation, especially in outdoor settings.
5. Comfort and Fit: Designed for prolonged wear, often with adjustable features to fit different head sizes and shapes.
6. Compatibility with Gear: Can be worn with helmets, communication devices, and other military equipment.
7. Anti-Fog and Scratch-Resistant Coatings: Enhance visibility and longevity of the eyewear.

Military glasses are essential for protecting soldiers’ eyes from potential hazards like shrapnel, debris, and bright light, while ensuring they can perform their duties effectively.