JULY 17, 2023 – Proper vision is crucial for various military settings, from navigating terrain to combat training. However, in 1917, the U.S. military discovered that a significant portion of officers and recruits had refractive errors, leading to the issuance of standardized eyewear for vision correction. At the time, the standard-issue GI glasses were not exactly the most flattering, as they were thick-rimmed cellulose acetate frames that typically came in black or brown. In fact, their infamous nickname ‘birth control glasses’ or BCG can be owed to this lack of cosmetic appeal.
Eyewear for military use has largely evolved since the first time these GI glasses were issued. Technological advancements and the wide range of vision needs among soldiers led to various types of protective military-grade eyewear. Here’s a look at some of them.
Aviators for safe flying
The Bausch & Lomb Optical Company was the official eyewear maker of the U.S. Army for the GI glasses. In 1936, Bausch & Lomb went on to develop aviator sunglasses for pilots. More commonly known as Ray-Ban aviators, these were designed to ‘ban rays’ from pilots’ eyes and provide greater visibility during flights. Aviators are characterized by dark, usually green, reflective lenses in a shape mimicking pilot goggles. While they originally came in plastic material, they were eventually upgraded to an all-metal frame with a double or triple bridge for effective eye protection and glare control.
Tactical eyewear with ballistic protection
Soldiers require protective eyewear when engaging in military operations such as training, combat, and intelligence gathering. In this light, the eyewear brand Oakley offers tactical eyewear for military use. It started with the M Frames that provided optimal eye coverage and were thus popularized among SWAT units and military operators in the early 2000s. But they were technically not approved as military-grade eyewear, which led to Oakley’s introduction of the M 2.0 Frame in 2006. These passed the ANSI Z87.1 high-mass and high-velocity impact protection tests, qualifying them in the Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List.
Sunglasses with lens coatings
Outside combat and aviation, the military also needs sunglasses for outdoor activities, dirty/rugged environments, and general everyday use. This is why their sunglasses can come with protective features in the form of lens coatings and treatments. Polarized sunglasses enhance vision by blocking the glare from reflective surfaces like water, ice, and smooth road surfaces. Polarized filters are thus suitable for fishing, driving, hiking, or just exploring terrains and can come in various styles like round metal sunglasses or oversized plastic frames. Meanwhile, both scratch-resistant and anti-fog coating deliver uncompromised durability and visual clarity even outside the battlefield.
Smart glasses with military applications
Recent eyewear innovations include smart features that do more than just enhance vision. The smart glasses available in the market now have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, audio, photo, and video interface, and even digital displays. This disruptive technology can also be applied within the military context, as observed in the smart eyewear being developed by Vuzix Corporation in partnership with L3Harris Technologies. Although it is still in initial development, the customized waveguide-based optics engine will have augmented reality capabilities and a wide field of view for all types of field and battle conditions.
With this exciting development for smart glasses with military applications, what ultimately matters is that it follows the same principle as previous eyewear developments. It has to be compatible with other military gear, such as helmets, communication systems, and other protective equipment for efficiency and ease of use.