Ray-Ban

founded by

Bausch & Lomb

belongs to

Luxottica Group

about

Ray-Ban is a manufacturer of high-end sunglasses, founded in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb. They were introduced for the United States Army Air Corps. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold the brand to the Italian Luxottica Group for a reported $1.2billion.

Ray-Bans were created in 1937. Some years earlier, Lieutenant John MacCready returned from a balloon 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 and ultraviolet rays. Pilots in the United States Army Air Corps immediately adopted the sunglasses. The Ray-Ban Aviator became a well-known style of sunglasses when General Douglas MacArthur landed on the beach in the Philippines in World War II, and photographers snapped several pictures of him wearing them.

Ray-Ban includes seven main lines in their sunglasses collection. These are Families, Icons, Active lifestyle, High street, Fast and furious, Tech and Craft. The sunglasses manufactured by Ray-Ban are intended for people of different ages, from the youngest to the oldest. Therefore, many designs are conservative and suitable for older individuals who are looking for a more serious and sober look, and others come in powerful solid colors or daring prints.

The sunglasses frames range from very thin metal-like frames to thicker, carbon fiber frames. The lenses of some Ray-Ban sunglasses are polarized, which means they eliminate glare from the reflective surfaces which results in a drastic reduction in the brightness of shiny surfaces, like chrome, and large bodies of water and much more comfort for the eyes of the wearer. These lenses also protect the wearer's eyes from the potentially harmful blue light. These sophisticated, well-made lenses are popular because they are scratch-resistant, they provide clarity, and they offer 100% protection from the sun's dangerous UV rays.

Other sunglasses feature G-15 lenses which are effective in reducing eyestrain and squinting. These lenses transmit the color equally by retaining their true values resulting in more comfort for the wearer. The B-15 lenses provide clarity and comfort by blocking out a large percentage of blue light. Some would recommend these sunglasses for driving, sports and other activities in which seeing clearly is important. Another category of lenses provided by Ray-Ban are the Light Adaptive ones which are designed to adapt to different light conditions and adjust accordingly. Chameleon-like technology allows these lenses to turn dark when in direct sunlight and then turn clear when indoors or in low lighting.