Lead Glasses and Radiation Glasses for X-Ray Protection

Clinical staff who work near active X-ray imaging, including radiologists, interventional cardiologists, fluoroscopy and cath lab teams, surgeons operating under live imaging, and supporting techs and nurses. Follow your facility's radiation safety program for who is required to wear them in your setting.

INFAB offers prescription options for radiation eyewear, so one pair can handle both clear vision and eye protection. Download the prescription order form to get started. A signed optician prescription and PD are required for each wearer.

Fit-over radiation glasses, sometimes called fitovers, are designed to be worn directly over your existing prescription eyeglasses. The protective frame is sized to go around your everyday glasses, so staff who already wear glasses get radiation eye protection without ordering new prescription lenses. This is different from prescription lead glasses, where your vision correction is built into the protective lens itself as a single pair. Fitover styles such as the Fitover Lotus are a practical option when you want to keep wearing your own frames underneath.

Both protect the eyes during imaging. The difference is mainly coverage and fit. Goggle-style and wraparound designs add coverage around the sides for higher-scatter work, while a lighter frame may be preferred for everyday wear. The right choice depends on the procedures and how staff work at the table.

A lead apron protects the torso and a thyroid shield protects the neck, but neither protects the eyes. Radiation glasses are the part of the kit that helps cover eye exposure from scattered radiation.

INFAB lead glasses attenuate at least 97% of the direct X-ray beam at 148 kVp, with a 0.75 mm Pb lead-equivalent lens, tested to ASTM F2547-18. They reduce scattered radiation reaching the eye through the lens but do not eliminate scatter that reaches the eye from around, above, or behind the lens, so they work best as part of a full radiation safety program. Consult your Radiation Safety Officer for facility-specific recommendations.

The protection comes from the lens, not the frame. INFAB fits its radiation-protective lenses into genuine designer frames, so you get the Ray-Ban, Oakley, Nike, or Gucci frame your team wants to wear, paired with an INFAB radiation-protective lens. The frame is the style; the lens is the protection.

Do not use ammonia- or chlorine-based cleaners. Alcohol is permitted only on lenses without an anti-reflective (A/R) coating. For A/R-coated lenses, soak in diluted soap and water and do not let water dry on the lenses. Clean the frame with diluted soap and water. Store in a protective case at room temperature and low humidity. Inspect before each use and discontinue use if lenses or frames are chipped, pitted, cracked, or damaged. Lenses are not shatter-proof; do not use where impact hazards exist. Covered by a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Radiation glasses do not have a set expiration date, but the lens must be intact to protect properly. Replace a pair if the lens is chipped or cracked, or if the frame is damaged enough to affect fit. Deep scratches or any damage that affects the lens should be assessed, and many facilities review protective eyewear periodically as part of their radiation safety program.

The lens of the eye is among the more radiosensitive tissues exposed to scatter in an imaging suite, and radiation-protection bodies recognize repeated occupational exposure as a factor in cataract formation. Reflecting this, recommended occupational dose limits for the eye lens have been lowered in recent years by international radiation protection bodies. Radiation glasses can help reduce the scattered dose reaching the eye for staff who work under live imaging, as part of a full radiation safety program. For guidance on dose limits and monitoring at your facility, consult your Radiation Safety Officer.

Scatter can reach the eyes from the side, not just straight ahead, especially when staff turn toward a monitor or stand at an angle to the field. Side shields and wraparound frames extend protection toward the temples, which is why teams in higher-scatter roles often choose those styles. Lighter frames without full side coverage may be appropriate for routine, lower-scatter tasks, while staff in interventional or high-scatter roles benefit most from side shields or wraparound coverage.

INFAB is an FDA-registered medical device manufacturer with an ISO 13485:2016 certified quality system, and its radiation-protective lenses are tested to ASTM F2547-18.