NASA technology drove early advances in the scratch resistance and UV-reflective properties of prescription and sunglass lenses.
Some of the earliest research into effective scratch-resistant coatings for prescription and sunglass lenses drew from work done at Ames Research Center on coatings for astronaut helmet visors and plastic membranes used in water purification systems. Then, in the 1980s, NASA developed sunlight-filtering lenses to provide eye protection and enhance colors, and these lenses have found their way into sunglasses, ski goggles and safety masks for welders.
Read more: http://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2006/ch_6.html
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