What shape is the classic Ray-Ban Aviator lens?

The classic Ray-Ban Aviator lens is teardrop-shaped.

That distinctive shape grew from aviation needs rather than fashion alone. Early aviator-style lenses were designed for pilots who frequently looked downward at instrument panels. The extended lower portion helped cover more of the eye’s field of vision while reducing glare, visible light, infrared radiation and ultraviolet exposure.

Bausch & Lomb developed the early aviation eyewear, and its civilian version became Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses. The first Anti-Glare model went on sale to the public in 1937; the metal-framed Ray-Ban Aviator followed in 1938. The design was slightly convex and paired with thin metal frames, often featuring a double bridge.

A common mix-up is calling every pilot-style sunglass lens an Aviator lens. Later military designs, including the HGU-4/P, used more semi-rectangular lenses. Ray-Ban also produced related models such as the Shooter and Outdoorsman, but the classic Aviator silhouette remains the familiar teardrop.