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Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses
(RB3025 004/58)

Aviator sunglasses are a style of sunglasses that were developed by Ray-Ban in 1937. They are characterized by dark, often reflective lenses having an area two or three times the area of the eye socket, and metal frames with wire temples which hook behind the ears. Contemporary models are often polarized.

U.S. Army test pilot F.W. "Mike" Hunter wearing aviator sunglasses, October 1942

They were given their name due to their oblique teardrop shape, which matched those of the smoked-lens flying goggles which Ray-Ban was then selling to the Army and Navy. One undesirable result of wearing these goggles was the mismatched tan (dark on the face, white around the eyes) which developed—the oversized aviator sunglasses would hide the white areas, while allowing a limited amount of sunlight through, thus allowing the skin to tan. Though the early goggles were replaced by 1941, the sunglasses had become popular, especially with Naval aviators. Army/Air Force aviators preferred the smaller, more-squarish American Optical straight-temple glasses, which can be put on and removed even while wearing a flying helmet.

Legend claims that the need arose for aviator-style sunglasses because military pilots found that sun and glare protection would be helpful to aid them during day missions and dogfights.^{[citation needed]} However, pilots of the time did not wear sunglasses whilst flying.

The large lenses are not straight as in eyeglasses but bulge out slightly. The design attempts to cover the entire range of the eye and prevent as much light as possible from entering the eye socket from any angle. While still popular with military and civilian aviators alike, the sunglasses work quite well (and are usually seen as fashionable) and have been taken up by the non-flying civilian population. Law enforcement officers have also taken a liking to the glasses for many reasons,^{[citation needed]} including their excellent cancellation of glare and prevention of eye contact. The design was originally intended for shooting^[1]

Notable wearers of Aviators include popular actors, musicians, artists and other celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Michael Jackson, Hunter S. Thompson, Lou Reed, Jim Morrison, Johnny Knoxville, Freddie Mercury, Tom Petty, Theodore Kaczynski, Axl Rose, Slash, Shogo Hamada, Donny Tourette, Kanye West, M. Shadows, Nathaniel Amos, E-40, Cam Kelley, PJ Rufo, and countless others.