So sorry to hear that your friend was hurt.
I have been shooting guns for nearly 40 years and had never worn safety glasses even once. But a few weeks back the "accurate shooter" forum had an article on safety glasses. Using some information that they showed, I went on Amazon and ordered a pair. Not the most expensive but some of the cheaper ones that had pretty good ratings. I think I paid about 45$ for them.
So this weekend we had a big shoot at a buddies house with about 20 guys there, and I knew we would be shooting a lot of steel targets so I made sure I had them with me.
One of the guys offered to let me shoot one of his 1911's and of course I accepted. About 4 rounds into the mag, a case ruptured and all of a sudden crap hit me in the face and my hand started stinging like mad. A few seconds later I felt blood running down my face and nose, I had been hit in 4 places with debris and had 3 "pock" marks across the right lens of my brand new shooting glasses.
BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT. WILL NEVER PULL A TRIGGER WITHOUT THEM AGAIN. (except of course in self defense)
If your shooting a firearm, please please go get a pair and spend a little bit of money, don't go for the cheap crap at --- mart. God may not protect all fools, as long as he did this one.