Eye protection for fiber optic work should include which of the following?

• A. UV tinted lenses
• B. side shields
• C. both UV tinted lenses and side shields
• D. neither is required

Answer: (B)

Eye protection for fiber optic work focuses on preventing exposure from light entering the eye from angles other than directly in front. The laser beam can be invisible or come from reflections off fiber ends and equipment, so blocking off-axis light is crucial. Side shields do exactly that by covering the sides of the lenses, reducing the chance of stray light reaching the eye as you move or glance around the workspace. UV tinted lenses don’t address the common hazards in fiber optics, since the main risks are from the specific laser wavelengths used (often infrared or other non-UV wavelengths) and require eyewear rated for those wavelengths and with the proper optical density. Therefore, side shields are the essential feature for eye protection in this context.