A decade later they won the contract to produce the standard, uniform-issue military-spec aviator sunglasses for the U.S. Air Force, and after 25 years, has never failed to win renewal.

The Best Aviator Sunglasses Overall: ... (Like American Optical above, in 1982, the brand secured a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to produce military-issue sunglasses.) ...

Originally invented in 1929 by Bausch & Lomb for U.S. military pilots (hence the “aviator” name), the original aviator sunglasses were quickly picked up by the masses.

The moniker aviator glasses is historically accurate. In the 1920s, the U.S. Army Air Corps put out a manufacturing call for anti-glare goggles suitable for high-altitude flying. The optical ...