I always wear glasses with UVA and UVB protection while working around HIDs. It helps with the afterimages, color washout, and lack of contrast that you experience after leaving the grow area as well. I've been doing the same around my CFL cabinets (although not as religiously) and I do feel it's more comfortable.
I recommend a cheap pair of amber colored glasses for daytime visits with ambient light present, and a light blue pair of nighttime driving/skiing glasses for evening/night hours or if your grow room is located in an otherwise dark location. You can use cheap minimart/gas station glasses, they don't have to be nice or even decent.
HID light is intense enough to cause damage, as is sufficiently concentrated CFL light at close proximity. Keep some cheap sunglasses around, especially if this is a long term hobby for you; your vision is not something to fsck with and damage from exposure builds up over time.