Laboratory Eyewear Acknowledgement

I will or I will not (please circle) wear contact lenses in the chemistry laboratory. If I will
wear contact lenses, I acknowledge reading the statement below.

Name:

Signature:

Date:

Course: CHEM 1020 Section: 2

Contact lenses are never a substitute for appropriate eye protection. Only a few years ago,
the use of contact lenses was prohibited in any situation where the wearer might come in
contact with chemical vapors, or the possibility of chemical splashes existed. Some recent
research has indicated that contact lenses may be worn in chemically hazardous situations,
provided protective goggles are also worn. The American Optometric Association supports
this view. However, this research is not complete and is based on animal studies. Other
research suggests that in some cases contact lenses may concentrate any potential injury.
This is particularly true of some soft contact lenses. According to a safety guide* published
by the American Chemical Society, contact lenses worn with goggles are acceptable, but
safety glasses and prescription safety glasses without goggles do not provide adequate
protection. However, we recommend you do not wear contact lenses in this laboratory
unless they are absolutely necessary for therapeutic reasons. You may also contact your
optometrist or Ophthalmologist for advice.

In any case, the initial action for any chemical in the eye is immediate flushing with
water. Contact lenses may be lost if this action is ever required.

Revised 1-99.
*
http://portal.acs.org/portal/fileFetch/C/WPCP_012295/pdf/WPCP_012295.pdf