Ray-Ban is an American high end manufacturer of sunglasses

Sunglasses

Sunglasses or sun glasses are a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can sometimes also function as a visual aid, as variously termed spectacles or glasses exist, featuring lenses that...

, founded in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb

Bausch & Lomb

Bausch & Lomb, an American company based in Rochester, New York, is one of the world's leading suppliers of eye health products, such as contact lenses and lens care products today. In addition to this main activity, in recent years the area of medical technology has been developed...

. They were introduced for the United States Army Air Corps

United States Army Air Corps

The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...

. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold the brand to the Italian Luxottica

Luxottica

Luxottica Group S.p.A. is the world's largest eyewear company. Its best known brands include Ray-Ban, Persol and Oakley, Inc.. It also makes sunglasses and prescription frames for a multitude of designer brands such as Chanel and Prada, whose designs and trademarks are used under license...

 Group for a reported $640 million.

History

Ray-Bans were first created in 1936. The idea of Ray Bans began some years earlier when Lieutenant John A. Macready returned from a balloon

Balloon

A balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...

 flying adventure and complained that the sun had permanently damaged his eyes. He contacted Bausch & Lomb asking them to create sunglasses that would provide protection and also look elegant. On May 7, 1937, Bausch & Lomb took out the patent. The prototype, known as Anti-Glare, had an extremely light frame weighing 150 grams. They were made of gold-plated metal with green lenses made of mineral glass to filter out infrared

Infrared

Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...

 and ultraviolet

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...

 rays. Pilots in the United States Army Air Corps immediately adopted the sunglasses. The army had intentions to have sunglasses that would protect the soldiers from the rays of the sun but yet still have an elegant look. The Ray-Ban Aviator became a well-known style of sunglasses when General Douglas MacArthur landed on the beach in the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, and photographers snapped several pictures of him wearing them. Ray Bans were quickly seen outside of just the army. In 1937, Ray Ban made their first patent on the Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses.
Ray Bans quickly gained popularity through other wars and even made a debut in the movies. In 1952, Ray Ban created another style, the Ray Ban Wayfarer

Ray Ban Wayfarer

Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses have been manufactured by Ray-Ban since 1956, when their design was a revolutionary break from the metal eyewear of the past. Wayfarers enjoyed early popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the sunglasses had faded from the limelight by the 1970s, a lucrative 1982...

. The difference with these sunglasses were the plastic frames. This design of the wafer glasses became very popular with the normal everyday socio-economic crowd. The wafer sunglasses were seen on movie stars, TV stars, and musicians. Ray Ban still remains a top designer in the sunglasses industry with their constant change in color, frames, and lenses.

Lenses

Ray Ban has created a number of different lenses for each of their glasses. Each of the lenses are equipped with their own form of technology to suit every life style. The High Contrast Brown Lenses are made for a military design that allows for the maximum amount of clarity and protection. These lenses are made to block out blue light and most commonly used for driving and action sports. The Neutral Grey lenses are recommended for reduced eye strain and to see color as it truly is. Polarized lenses were created to reduce the amount of reflected light into your eyes. Lastly, Light Adaptive lenses are designed to adjust to all different amounts of light. The lenses will turn dark when excessive light is present and lighter when there is not as much light.

Frames

Ray Ban has two primary types of frames available. The first is a titanium frame that is comfortable and flexible to wear. Secondly, there is the Memo-Ray frame. This frame is sturdier and more durable. It is designed for all types of activity.