In the 1920s, US pilots flew planes that allowed them to reach higher altitudes, but the intense light from the sun made pilots ill.

The US Airforce asked company Bausch and Lomb to make glasses to block bright light, but also see clearly. By the 1930s, they had made the Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses. Aviators are both practical and stylish and are still a popular fashion accessory today.