Universal Sideshields for Safety Glasses

For over 60 years, Safety Optical Service (SOS) has been the leading manufacturer of universal sideshields for workplace eye protection. Founded in 1963 and operating under the same ownership ever since, SOS pioneered the development of practical, ANSI Z87.1-compliant sideshield solutions that workers will actually wear. Our patented SIDEWEAR® line — including the B-52+ Aye-Mate®, B-26+ Wing-Mate™, and B-22 SAFEMATE® — represents decades of innovation, independent testing, and direct participation in the standards that govern the PPE industry today.

Universal Sideshields That Fit Any Safety Frame

Our complete line of universal sideshields is engineered to fit virtually any safety frame without tools, bending, or scratching. The patented SAFETYWING® design delivers total lateral protection — top, side, and bottom — and each product is independently third-party tested to ANSI Z87.1 high-velocity impact standards. That means a ¼-inch steel ball at 150 feet per second, on compliant frames, with zero failures. Whether you need polycarbonate sideshields for high-impact industrial environments or pliable medical-grade polymer shields for healthcare settings, SOS has a proven solution.

The SOS Sideshield Product Line

The B-52+ Aye-Mate® and B-26+ Wing-Mate™ are molded from high-impact GE Lexan® polycarbonate and cover medium-to-large and small-to-medium frame styles respectively. Both attach and remove in under a minute without permanent modification to the frame — a critical advantage for employees who wear prescription safety glasses outside of work. The B-22 SAFEMATE® addresses a different challenge: lateral eye protection in healthcare. Its pliable FDA-approved polymer self-adjusts to nearly any frame and facial contour, providing a goggle-like barrier against blood-borne pathogens and airborne particles while remaining comfortable enough for extended wear. All three models incorporate the patented SAFETYWING® for top-side-bottom orbital coverage, and the total weight of the Aye-Mate® is just 7 grams — less than a quarter ounce.

Reduce PPE Program Costs Through Standardization

SOS sideshields are designed to reduce program costs at every level of your organization. Safety managers benefit from standardization — one universal sideshield replaces over 150 OEM-specific models currently on the market. Purchasing streamlines to a single SKU. Storeroom inventory shrinks. The COMPLIANCE SAFEPACK® PLUS dispensing system puts 20 pairs, with installation instructions, in a compact resealable container that can be stationed anywhere from a nurse’s office to a construction site trailer. OSHA compliance is demonstrated visibly and consistently across your entire workforce, while employees gain the flexibility to remove sideshields when leaving the workplace — eliminating the need for multiple pairs of prescription glasses.

ANSI Z87.1 Compliant and OSHA Accepted

All SOS SIDEWEAR® meets the requirements of DOL/OSHA Rule 29 CFR 1910.133 for General Industry. While OSHA does not certify PPE directly, SOS engaged Professional Service Industries, Inc. (PSI) — an internationally recognized independent testing lab — to certify the B-52+® and B-26+™ on ANSI Z87.1-compliant frames. High-velocity testing at both prescribed ANSI impact locations produced no shield failures and no frame failures. Certification letters are available on request. Every SOS sideshield carries the Z87 marking required by the standard, giving safety officers, purchasing managers, and OSHA inspectors immediate visual confirmation of compliance.

Trusted by Industry for Over 60 Years

Safety Optical Service didn’t just manufacture sideshields — we helped shape the standards behind them. SOS served as Industrial Liaison on ANSI Z87 committees, lobbied regulatory agencies to modernize outdated requirements, and worked directly with the optical profession to advance occupational vision programs. The B-52+ Aye-Mate® has become the industry benchmark for compliant lateral impact protection on medium-to-large safety frames. That track record of innovation and accountability is why safety professionals, distributors, and employers across general industry and healthcare continue to rely on SOS as their sideshield supplier of choice.