FEATURE
Aviator Glasses
Erika Habig
Erika Habig is an optometrist and contact lens specialist at International Optique. She studied at the Beuth University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, Germany and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Optometry and Dispensing Optics.
Since their invention in the 1930s, aviator sunglasses have been a prominent figure in the eyewear fashion industry. From Hollywood celebrities to artists and designers, aviator glasses are popular among all generations. However, the famed sunglasses have a more practical and humble beginning. Bausch & Lomb first developed these glasses for World War II pilots of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Although branded as “Ray-Ban”, they quickly earned the moniker “aviator glasses”, a term which today describes all sunglasses with similar designs. The iconic tear-drop frames were made to mimic the shape of the pilot goggles, covering the maximum area around the eye. The glasses incorporate lightweight gold-plated metal with green colored anti-glare lenses, known as the G-15 glass lens. The large lenses are slightly convex, preventing as much light as possible from entering the pilot’s eyes from any angle. The design of the aviator glasses has remained largely unchanged since its introduction in 1937. Due to the versatility of the shape, the sunglasses suit nearly every face, making it an easy choice for sunglass buyers. Over the years, many companies have begun making their own pilot shades and these are now available from almost every brand and no-name label. U.S. General Douglas MacArthur put aviators on the map after he was photographed wearing the shades while landing on the beach in the Philippines. Public popularity continued to broaden in the decades that followed, especially after the sunglasses were spotted on Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Even Freddie Mercury chose to wear the well-known glasses on the cover of his first solo album. And of course, who can forget Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer sporting their aviators in the movie Top Gun. Dark, sleek and mysterious, the aviator glasses have literally taken off. They remain a top style symbol in the highly competitive eyewear fashion industry and will surely outlive many more short-term trends to come. October 2013
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