A system for protecting a display screen of a display monitor is disclosed. The system includes a protective transparent panel, and a retention bezel. The protective transparent panel has an inner panel portion surrounded by an outer peripheral panel portion. The inner panel portion has a panel area equal to the screen viewing area, and an outer peripheral panel portion extending outwardly of the inner panel portion to overlay the monitor bezel. The retention bezel has a mounting portion and a front flange portion. The mounting portion is sized to encircle the protective transparent and the monitor housing, and the mounting portion extends rearwardly to overlay the monitor housing. The front flange portion overlays the outer peripheral panel portion, and has an inward width of between 0.1 mm and 5 mm. The mounting portion and the front flange portion have a material thickness of less than 5 mm.