Jul

14

All about military eyeglasses

Filed Under Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear 


This article is a random collection of information on US military eyeglasses and eye related products and news. The military is responsible, through Eisenhower, for the popularization of the now famous aviator style of shades. Its personnel, in their off duty hours, have made shades of all verities seem badass and hip when coupled with the camouflage of their uniforms. One wonders what occurs in the military optical world outside of the enlisted men’s affinity and passion for creative shades. This article acts as an update on random eyeglasses related military information.

The US military provides glasses for all soldiers who require vision correction implements to see at a 20/20 level. These glasses, affectionately called birth control glasses (BCGs) are the American GI issued eyeglasses of a distinctly unappealing design. They earned that nickname when servicemen started referring to the improbability of a soldier getting a date while wearing the frames. They were thick, brown framed glasses with extra long earpieces and nearly rectangular lenses. They are practical in that they are waterproof and purposefully designed not to interfere with a soldier’s line of sight. They are issued to new recruits at basic training camp and are to be worn until graduation, at which point the lucky recruit can hope to attract the until then unattainable date.

Partly in response to public distaste for the military issued BCGs, the Navy currently allows several civilian-like glasses options called glasses-of-choice frames to its active duty personal. This practice began in 1996, with new designs becoming available intermittently. They have been cheerfully received by military personal happy for the sudden and swift departure from BCGs.

The US Army currently has a combination of ballistic/laser protective goggles that are also sun, wind and dust resistant. They are, essentially, goggles that strap around the head that protect the eye and can also be built to match the soldier’s prescription. An estimated 10% of all casualties are eye injuries, of which 90% were preventable, yet the military has had extensive trouble getting soldiers to wear protective goggles or spectacles. In the past five years the military has offered more fashionable and hip versions of the goggles, which have been much better received. Additionally, it is a rite of passage and common trend for military men to done very cool, black shades after hours as one of the only slight ways a military person can express his or her fashion sense and personality.

US military servicemen are now given priority for laser eye surgery, as accurate vision is not only a necessity, but poor eyesight is an extreme liability. military eyeglassesIndeed, in the US droves of soldiers line up for laser eye surgery prior to overseas deployments. Contact lenses in the Middle East are difficult, as constant sand is driven into the eye by strong winds. Eyeglasses are liable to break, inspiring soldiers to carry extra pairs in the event of a problem with their primary pair. Of course, being on a battlefield without the ability to see is a soldier’s worst nightmare. The military has taken measures to have optometrists available with up to a 24 hour turn around for new glasses, yet soldiers tend to prefer the surgery.
In 2006 the US military signed a contract with Pixeloptics for the creation of super vision corrective lenses, which would allow a soldier to have better than 20/20 vision, perhaps up to 20/08. This could give the military an obvious strategic advantage.

Comments

  • http://www.smartbuyglasses.com/blog/all-about-military-eyeglasses.html Kevin

    Im about to join the air force and was wondering if the lazer eye surgery is available to them as well?

  • http://www.eyecaretips.com/ eye care doctor

    Nice and
    informative blog. Annual check-ups are essential to promoting healthy vision.
    If you need glasses or strengthen contacts, and you expect to see your eyes,
    drop your vision and you can develop tension headaches your eyes constantly
    adapt.
     

  • http://www.hussey-fraser.ie/personal-injuries-claims/ Personal Injury Claims

    The lasek laser eye surgery technique is successfully applied in many countries and satisfaction rate is very high hence if eye problem is very intense so adopt the technique of lasek laser eye surgery.

  • http://allnatural-product-reviews.com/funginix Funginix

    But there is some eradication into it

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