Recommended glasses for pilots?

Question

what type of glasses are best for a pilot. i see alot of pilots wearing those big metal frame ones, is there a reason for this. visibility or something?

i know any pair of polarized glasses would do but what is the best way to go, and where cani buy a quality pair on the net? preferbaly low price.

Answer 1

Sunglasses?  It doesn't really matter.  Whatever you like, however, I'd recommend not getting polarized.  Polarized lenses make it hard to see digital displays sometimes.  I also prefer amber tints, but that's just me.  Gray tints, for me, have to be too dark in order to be affective.  A lighter amber tint will work in bright sunlight all the way to dusk.

Oh, and please don't wear the topgun sunglasses.  I can't help myself from laughing when I see a first officer whip those suckers out.

edit:  My favorite are Serengeti.  I highly recommend them.

Answer 2

RayBan 1945AF with GS15 gradient.

Answer 3

If you need a prescription, go for top-quality lenses and a prescription from an ophthalmologist, as previously stated.

If you just want sunglasses, get good sunglasses with large lenses (large so that they protect your eyes peripherally). Polarization isn't a good idea because some modern cockpit instruments emit polarized light, and if you have polarized filters on your glasses they can be difficult or impossible to read in certain positions. Polarized lenses are not allowed if the windshield of the aircraft is also polarized.  Make certain that the sunglasses filter out all UV light (99% or better).

Wearing sunglasses protects your eyes from ultraviolet light—there's a great deal of it at altitude, and it can damage and irritate your eyes over time. Sunglasses also preserve your night vision. Squinting at bright skies without protection can make it hard to adjust if you later must fly in the evening.

Gray tints distort color the least and are often a good choice for pilots. Some pilots report that green or brown seem to make things clearer, and yellowish tints are said to make vision sharper, although this has not been established scientifically.  Sunglasses should remove about 80% of light; more than that may impair vision inside the cockpit. Intense colors should be avoided as they may interfere with color perception.

There are several FAA publications that discuss vision issues in flying. See AM-400-05/1 in particular, which covers glasses and sunglasses specifically.

Answer 4

sunglasses?

Stay away from polarized lenses. This is for two reasons. Many, but not all, lcd screens have a polarized coating on them which makes them much easier to see in direct sunlight. If you look at the screen with polarized sunglasses you will see a really trippy rainbow. Its pretty cool to look at, but not so fun if you need to read the screen. This is the big issue with polarized glasses to most people but I see a bigger problem. When looking for traffic what you are actually looking for is a sparkle of light, pay attention to what first catches your eye of other traffic. If you are paying attention, Its going to be a faint flash of light in the distance, its just a reflection of the sun that usually doesn't last long. Polarized glasses do a great job at reducing glare, they really do and I'm not saying they are bad glasses for driving or fishing, but I don't like flying with them (ok, So I like the 1969 Woodstock feeling when I look at a Garmin 430, what can I say?) I want to see traffic, and anything I can do to help me pick out that traffic is worth it to me.

I have been flying with Serengeti glasses for a few years now and I think they are great. I don't use the big aviators (top gun shades) just because I'm not a fan on the style. They do serve a purpose, they are bigger, they cover more of your eye and keep more light out. But its just not for me.

In the past I have used other glasses, My 2nd favorites were Smiths. I can't say anything bad about them, I just like the Serengeti more.

I think the most important thing is color of lens. Get the deep amber color, put them on and look at some clouds and you will see why I say that. They don't block out the light, they filter out the light and give a great contrast. I wear mine all the time, I wear them even when driving in thick fog, they work great. The only time I don't wear them is  at night, I'm not cool like Corey Heart...

Answer 5

Sunglasses for flying, I personally prefer Serengeti with the Amber "driver" lenses. There are different styles and you don't have to get the "aviators". They have a Corning tempered "photochromatic" glass lens. They darken slightly in the bright sunlight. I have found that the Serengeti's cut through haze a little better than any of the others. What this means is that you might get an extra 10 - 30 seconds of seeing the other aircraft around you when ATC announces traffic at your 10 O'clock.

Don't bother with plastic lenses, they don't cut the haze like the glass ones, I don't know why. You're looking to spend about 80-130 bucks.

Polarized sunglasses are a no-no. Most digital LCD displays have polarized screens and that causes them to appear black when you look through them with polarized glasses.

Answer 6

It looks like three other people already gave the same answer that I was going to give, so I'll just add my plug for Serengeti driver lenses.  They block out the things you don't want (UV rays) while letting through pretty true colors.  They actually sharpen your vision in haze.  I keep my Serengetis on even in clouds (assuming it's daytime) because I can usually see the airport about a mile sooner through the haze compared to not wearing sunglasses.

I concur with the other answers about avoiding polarized lenses.  Not only will they block the screens in modern cockpits, they may also block the glare off of other airplanes - the very glare that helps you spot them.

As for frame style, just find something that you like and you'll wear.  Aviator glasses swallow up my face and look pretty goofy on me.  I can't pull it off.  My glasses have good coverage and do the job without looking silly.

Answer 7

Aviator glasses is what you're talking about.  Aviators- as in pilots.  Cops have cop mustaches, rockers have tats, aviators have their glasses.  You can get aviators anywhere-

http://www.sunglasswarehouse.com/aviator...

Answer 8

Please purchase your eyeglasses from your Ophthalmologist or Optometrist.  You need their professional attention, and you can't get that over the Internet.

The recommended glasses are the ones you like.  Choose a pair that you find attractive and comfortable.  The style does not affect their usefulness in flight.

My personal recommendation is variable-tint dark gray lenses (the kind that automatically darken in bright sunlight).  If these don't get dark enough for your needs, add a dark colored clip-on lens over the variables when operating in really bright conditions.