Protective glasses should have which of the following features?

Protective glasses are specifically designed to provide barrier protection against potential hazards in a laboratory or clinical setting. One of the vital features of protective eyewear is the inclusion of side shields. These shields are important because they provide additional protection from flying particles, splashes, or contaminants that can come from the side, which standard glasses do not cover. By preventing hazards from entering around the edges of the eyewear, side shields enhance the overall safety for the wearer.

In contrast, regular prescription glasses and contact lenses do not offer sufficient protection against these risks; they are primarily designed for vision correction, not for safeguarding eyes in potentially dangerous environments. Therefore, relying solely on prescription glasses or contact lenses without proper protective eyewear compromises safety and increases the risk of injury.