Eyewear: Ensuring Safety, Protection and Compliance

Different markets have different regulations, but each is intended to ensure eyewear is safe and does not damage the user's eyes.

Eyewear has many functions, each with its own requirements but, whether its fashion or prescription spectacles, sunglasses, specialist sportswear glasses or personal protective equipment (PPE), the consumer needs to be certain the product is safe and will protect the eyes. In addition, all eyewear must be comfortable to wear and be resistant to damage.

Eyewear can also have specific requirements relating to its use. For example, prescription spectacles must safely correct impaired vision and sunglasses must adequately protect against harmful UV rays.

Manufacturers and suppliers of eyewear must ensure their products fulfill eyewear claims, in addition to ensuring they are compliant with market regulations.

Global Standards

Depending on the type of eyewear and the intended use, different standards exist around the world to ensure durability, safety and protection.

The potential for damage caused by UV light means that several authorities have standards relating to sunglasses.

These include:

• Australia & New Zealand - Consumer Good (Sunglasses and Fashion Spectacles) Safety Standard 2017, based on AS/NZS 1067.1
• China - QB 2457 and GB 10810.3
• European Union - EN ISO 12312-1
• Japan - Japanese Household Goods Quality Labeling Law
• South Korea - KC Mark
• USA - ANSI Z80.3

In addition, China also has a standard for eyewear frames - GB/T 14214 - and US has a standard for ophthalmic frames - ANSI Z80.5 and impact resistance - 21 CFR 801.40, which is covered by the FDA's regulations for medical devices.

The EU has several standards that apply to eyewear, depending on the function of the glasses. These include:

• EN 14139 for reading glasses
• EN ISO 12870 for frames
• Medical Devices Directive for reading glasses and frames
• PPE Directive/regulation for safety/protective eyewear
• CE Marking is compulsory on all products

For manufacturers and suppliers of eyewear, it is important that their products comply with the latest versions of these standards to ensure compliance.

Complying with Market Demands

To successfully access a market, eyewear must comply with regulatory requirements, national legislation and safety requirements. In addition, eyewear must also be strong, well-built and conform to any specific claims made for it.

SGS has a global network of state-of-the-art laboratories, including a number of ISO 17025 accredited facilities, that can undertake testing to ensure eyewear fulfils these claims and requirements. Testing can be undertaken to assess:

• Impact resistance
• High-velocity impact resistance
• Lens abrasion
• Material and surface quality
• Robustness
• Resistance to ignition
• Cleaning suitability.

In addition, assessments can also be made to check optical properties and specific claims relating to polarizing and photochromatic properties. We offer testing against a number of criteria, including optical power, refractive properties, UV 400 verification, transmittance (UV and luminous), scattered light, and resistance to fogging and radiation.

Finally, we can also test eyewear against the destination market's regulations for chemicals and heavy metals in consumer products. These can include restrictions on SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern), cadmium content, lead content, nickel release, and organotins, and the restrictions under REACH (EU) and CPSIA (USA).

SGS Solutions: Eyewear Services

SGS offers competitively priced testing, inspection and certification services, with fast and efficient turnaround times, to help products successfully access their target markets. With a network of highly-trained technicians around the world, backed-up with state-of-the-art laboratories, our experts can assist in the design and development of all forms of eyewear, offer evaluations of construction, safety, formulation and product claims. These can be undertaken at any point during the development phase, helping manufacturers to reduce costs.

Our technicians can also undertake factory audits, initial product, in-process, pre-shipment and final shipment inspections to verify safety and quality of products during production. Finally, we can assist with labeling and instruction reviews to help ensure your product complies with all aspects of international and national legislation.

SGS offers a one-stop solution for companies manufacturing and supplying eyewear to markets around the world.

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For more information, please contact:

Technical Expert:

John Wong
SGS Hong Kong
t: +852 2765 3546 Ext. 1546

Justin Yang
SGS Taiwan
t: +886 (0) 7 3012121 Ext. 2900

Sales Contact:

Johnny CK Tam
SGS Hong Kong
t: +852 2334 4481 Ext. 1878

Tammy Yang
SGS Taiwan
t: +886 (7) 7 3012121 Ext. 2902