One of the visuals that I remember as a child is the cover of one of my Dad’s magazines. It had a photograph of an astronaut in space, his helmet’s orange visor reflecting the Sun’s intense rays surrounded by a pitch black curtain of the universe. How could he see under those extreme conditions? It seemed to me that if the visor had to filter so much intense light, could he actually see the small details that he still had to recognize to work on the capsule?

I know that the concept seems rather advanced for a boy of ten, but since my uncle worked at Cape Canaveral, my interest was fired up trying to keep up with my cousins. My summer vacation always included a trip to see the Redstone rockets test…and if I was lucky, one of the huge Jupiter missles would be launched at night, creating a rumbling light show so loud, the sand would seem to shake.

Scientists from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory began research in the early ’80s, to advance filtering technology so that long-term exposure to UV rays and extreme light could be tolerated in space. While studying this, they found research showing evidence that the eyes of eagles, hawks, and other birds of prey contain unique oil droplets that protect them from intensely radiated light rays like blue, violet, or ultraviolet while vision enhancing light (red, green, orange rays) could pass through.The droplets reduced glare while increasing color contrast and definition for the best visual accuity. Coupling this with zinc, which absorbs UV rays (that’s why it’s in sunscreen lotions), the final lenses were produced.

Today, this technology is used in Eagle Eyes to either reduce glare and filter light out with their regular glasses ($29.95-$39.95), or to increase visibility in low light environments with their Stimulight (TM) line of glasses ($39.95). Whether you need clip ons, fit ons (they go over your existing glasses) or just a regular set of aviators, these glasses are extraordinary. If you want to reduce eye fatigue and strain, these are highly recommended.

…and they’re the only sunglass lenses endorsed by the Space Foundation for UVR and Blue Light Protection.

So if you’re walking on the Moon or just looking at it from your backyard..moonbeams will look better than ever!