Who Uses Lead Glasses for Radiation Protection?


Your eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of your whole body. They are the only part of your body that isn’t connected to your lymphatic system, your body’s detox system. The ICRP has set the occupational eye lens dose limit at just 20 mSv per year. For cardiologists, interventional radiologists, urologists, and staff who work with fluoroscopy daily, that limit can be reached faster than most expect without proper eye protection.

Protech Medical's leaded eyewear range protects against scatter radiation with 0.75mm Pb equivalency lenses that are available in designer frames from Ray-Ban, Oakley, Nike, Wiley-X, and Abaco, and fitted in-house by licensed opticians.

Whether you need wraparounds for all-day cath lab wear, fitovers for your existing prescription, or custom Rx lead glasses, we have a solution built for clinical use.

Eyewear by Brand

 
 

wraparound glasses

Wraparounds


Best for:
Comfort and flexibility, eliminating side hazards, and offering a snug fit.

Lead Equivalency Spec:
0.75mm Pb

Procedure Match:
Cardiac cath lab, interventional radiology, EP lab for all-day fluoroscopy use

lead goggles frames

Goggles


Best For:
Best coverage and field of view

Lead Equivalency Spec:
0.75mm Pb

Procedure Match:
High-scatter environments, maximum coverage requirement

Face shields Eyewear Type

Face Shields


Best for:
Best overall radiation protection

Lead Equivalency Spec:
0.75mm Pb

Procedure Match:
Full-face scatter protection for interventional procedures

Metal frame eyewear

Metals


Best for:
Durability

Lead Equivalency Spec:
0.75mm Pb

Procedure Match:
Diagnostic radiology, lower-scatter environments

Fitover frame

Fitovers


Best for:
Prescription eyewear

Lead Equivalency Spec:
0.75mm Pb

Procedure Match:
Prescription eyeglass wearers that fit directly over existing frames without adding much bulk.

Classic frame

Classic


Best for:
Versatility

Lead Equivalency Spec:
0.75mm Pb

Procedure Match:
General radiology, dental, and lower-exposure settings

The Protech Difference: In-House Licensed Opticians

Unlike online-only radiation eyewear retailers, every pair of lead glasses at Protech Medical is made by a licensed optician on staff. That means your glasses are checked for correct side-shield alignment, nose bridge fit, and your exact prescription is hand-surfaced to specification, not approximated. A poorly fitted pair of lead glasses provides incomplete scatter protection, especially from oblique angles. Our in-house opticians eliminate that risk.

FAQ: Lead Glasses for Radiation Protection

Do I need lead glasses for interventional radiology?
Yes. The eye lens is one of the most radiosensitive organs in the body. Since your eyes are not connected to your lymphatic system, they have no way to dispose of the damaged cells, leading to rapid dose accumulation. The ICRP occupational eye lens dose limit is 20 mSv/year, which is a threshold that fluoroscopy and interventional staff can approach faster than most expect without leaded eyewear.
What lead equivalency do radiation glasses need?
0.75mm Pb equivalency is the clinical standard for lead glasses used in fluoroscopy, interventional radiology, and cath lab environments.
Can I get lead glasses with my prescription?
Yes. Protech Medical's licensed opticians surface prescriptions in-house with single vision, progressive, and bifocal corrections available. Submit your Rx to our team, and we will build your leaded lenses to spec.
What is the difference between fitover and wraparound lead glasses?
Fitovers are designed to wear directly over your existing prescription eyewear, providing leaded protection without requiring a separate Rx pair. Wraparounds are standalone frames with integrated side shields, available in Rx or non-Rx, and preferred for all-day wear in high-exposure settings.
How often should lead glasses be replaced or inspected?
Lead glasses should be inspected annually, or immediately if said lenses have cloudiness, scratches, or frame damage is noted. Lens clarity directly affects attenuation performance.
Which lead glasses are best for the cath lab?
Wraparound-style frames with 0.50mm Pb side shields are the standard recommendation for cardiac cath lab and EP lab staff due to all-day fluoroscopy exposure and the need for lateral scatter coverage.
53 Wrap Lead Glasses
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