Ultimate Guide To Military & Ballistic Eyewear
Proper eye protection is important in many situations in life. If you are in the military or otherwise expect to be in a tactical situation, you need glasses that you can count on. Safety Gear Pro’s selection of military sunglasses provides the ballistic protection, visibility enhancement and UV-reduction you need. The following guide explores what these sunglasses are, the relevant ratings and why you should buy some.
What Ballistic Sunglasses Are
Ballistic eyewear is any type of glasses or goggles that are intended to protect from the types of projectiles, fragments and other threats you may experience in a tactical situation. In many cases, the sunglasses that fit into this category are those approved by the U.S. military for use by service personnel.
More generally, this category encompasses all eyewear that can stand up to the harsh environments and challenging requirements of military applications. These requirements often significantly exceed the needs of safety glasses in industrial settings. In other words, these glasses are designed to be ultra-durable.
Safety Gear Pro has both sunglasses and standard protective glasses. In many cases, you can choose how much tint you would like with a given set of frames. Additionally, you can order a pair of tactical glasses with your prescription.
Ballistic Ratings and Military Standards
The U.S. military sets its own standards for how effective eye protection should be. Eyewear that will be used for ballistic protection needs to meet either the MIL-PRF-31013 (for glasses) or the MIL-DTL-43511D (for goggles) standard. For high-velocity impacts, the requirements to meet the military standards are substantially higher than those set by the American National Standards Institute for normal work safety glasses.
Eyewear needs to meet the same ballistic standards regardless of whether it features corrective lenses or not. In fact, under military guidelines, if you need corrective lenses, you need to wear appropriate, approved lenses.
To receive these ratings, glasses and goggles need to follow strict guidelines. They are also tested to ensure that they provide the necessary level of protection.
MCEP and APEL Eyewear
You may notice that some military grade sunglasses are marked as being MCEP or APEL. These are short for the Military Combat Eye Protection program and the Authorized Protective Eyewear List, respectively.
The MCEP program is the program that selects which eyewear is approved for use by members of the U.S. Army. It may come as a surprise that soldiers are allowed to choose their won sunglasses provided that the pair has been pre-approved by the MCEP program. This is a departure from the normal government-issue treatment that soldiers receive.
The APEL is simply a list of the eyewear that has been approved. So, all MCEP-approved eyewear appears on the APEL.
Why You Should Choose Tactical Eyewear
You may wonder whether these sunglasses are really necessary. The short answer is that yes, they offer substantial benefits in the right situations. If you want high performance in mission-critical settings, these glasses and goggles are right for you. The following are three of the key advantages they can offer:
- Situation-Appropriate Protection: No matter what you are doing, it is important to have eye protection that is appropriate for the situational requirements. For a tactical setting, that means having ballistic eyeglasses. If you are going to be outside, those should be sunglasses. With the U.S. military ratings and APEL listing described above, you can be confident that these glasses will satisfy your tactical needs.
- Comfortable and Reliable Fit: Whether you are out hunting, playing sports, working or doing anything else that requires protective eyewear, the last thing you want to worry about is discomfort or a poor fit. Our military sunglasses are designed to fit comfortably even in the most challenging environments.
- Clear Visibility: Being able to see clearly is one of the most important elements for success in a tactical setting. These sunglasses will reduce the glare and brightness of the sunlight. Additionally, many of them are designed to make colors clearer and easier to see. That visibility will help you improve your situational awareness.
Order Your Military Sunglasses Today
Check out the full catalog of military eyewear available on Safety Gear Pro today. We have any pairs of glasses that appear on the APEL. Plus, we have even more that meet the military standards necessary for MCEP approval. Find a pair of frames that work for you and choose your lens options. We make ordering your tactical eyewear as easy as possible. Place your order today.
You can order military grade eyewear and sunglasses from Safety Gear Pro. We have a wide selection of designs and styles to choose from. You can be confident that you will find the right pair of sunglasses to serve in whatever shooting or tactical situations you may encounter. Yes, Safety Gear Pro offers the option to have prescription lenses in nearly all of our glasses. These are available in an ANSI-rated polycarbonate lens material with features such as glare reduction and UV protection. This depends on your unique requirements. We have glasses with wide fields of vision that are perfect for hunting or sport shooting. We also have sunglasses that provide optimal glare reduction and color clarity in the bright sun. Explore our catalog to find the right pair for you. If you will be outside, it is a good idea to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV and to reduce glare (improving safety). It is also a good idea to wear protective eyewear that is rated for ballistic uses. Our military eye protection options fit these needs perfectly. The short answer is that, no, military eye protection does not need to be ANSI-rated (that standard is used by OSHA for workplace regulations). However, many ballistic sunglasses are also ANSI-rated. This indicates that they have met another standard for safety and protection.
Frequently Asked Questions About Military Sunglasses
Where Can I Order Military Grade Sunglasses?
Can I Order Ballistic Glasses With a Prescription?
What Are the Best Ballistic Sunglasses?
Should I Use Military Sunglasses for Shooting?
Does My Military Eyewear Need To Be ANSI Rated?
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