The History of Ray Ban Sunglasses and Eye Protection

If you have ever seen Tom Cruise in "Riskydevelop these glasses even further for use by air
Business", you will remember two things. The firstforce pilots. The Aviator glasses soon became
being the most famous scene from that movie,popular with the other branches of the US military
the one where he comes sliding into the livingas well and when General Douglas MacArthur was
room dancing in his underwear, and the second,photographed landing on a beach in the Philippines
how good he looked in those sunglasses. Cruiseduring World War II, he was wearing a pair of
sported Ray Ban sunglasses in this movie andRay Bans.
they became as big a hit as the movie itself. ByRay Ban has relied on photographs of celebrities
the time this movie was made in 1983 however,to promote their eyewear throughout the years.
Ray Ban had already been making popularThe Blues Brothers, Miami Vice's Don Johnson,
sunglasses for 46 years.Michael Jackson, and Madonna are just a few of
The optical firm Bausch and Lomb launched thethe people who join Tom Cruise as Ray Ban
first Ray Ban sunglasses in 1936, which werewearers and promoters. Ray Ban Aviators have
anti-glare aviator sunglasses. They were the firstremained in style for decades but this company
to use polarized technology, which was developedalso moved with the times in terms of its other
by Edwin H. Land, the founder of the Polaroidmodels. There were bright, colorful frames to
Corporation. These dark glasses had large lenses,reflect the style of the 60's, big flashy shades in
about two or three times the size of the eyethe 70's, and sportier designs of the 80's.
socket, in the shape of an oblique teardrop.From the beginning, Ray Ban sunglasses have
Instead of being flat, these glasses were slightlybeen at the forefront of eye protection
convex. The goal of these large, curved glassestechnology. These glasses stay in style not only
was to protect the eyes from every angle forbecause of their celebrity appeal but also because
optimal protection from the sun. In the 1940's,they are well made and practical.
Ray Ban was hired by the US Air Force to