Invented in 1937. The dark shades of the aviator sunglasses were at one time necessary for test pilots pushing the limits of the airplanes. at high altitudes, a pilot's eyes could either be severely damaged by the extremely bright light in the upper atmosphere, or they could freeze in the temperatures approaching minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

In such conditions, goggles with dark lenses and a tear-drop shape were ideal. A design that prevented as much sunlight as possible from reaching the eye led to Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses, which became standard for men enlisted in the military during World War II. They later became famous due to popular movies such as Taxi Driver and Top Gun.