Cambium, a leader in advanced materials innovation, is in the final stages of commercializing its Laser Eyewear Protection (LEP) eyeglasses—the lead product in its broader Optics & Counter-Directed-Energy product portfolio—for use in defense and civilian applications. Cambium LEP eyeglasses are designed to provide superior protection and color clarity/contrast for pilots, sailors, ground forces, first responders and others who can be subjected to, debilitated by and permanently injured by laser dazzle. They represent a whole new level of LEP form, function and survivability, meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards and Military Specifications for safety ratings, and integrate seamlessly with helmets, straps and other mounted headgear. Working with military laboratory and recognized third-party testing authorities, these eyeglasses will now be tested independently to affirm and validate Cambium’s internal safety and performance data.
Cambium has advanced this program with an extreme sense of urgency because laser attacks on military and civilian aircraft cockpits, ships and crews, ground troops, and First Responders have skyrocketed. Laser dazzle strikes can cause temporary, even permanent vision damage, removing key personnel from mission readiness, adding a whole new layer of medical hazards for personnel and medical costs for their employers. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), commercial pilots alone have been subjected to tens of thousands of laser-dazzle attacks in past couple of years. Non-lethal directed energy weapons can cause temporary blindness and in some cases career-ending vision impairment. Legacy LEP products severely inhibit the user’s color vision, making them impractical in tactical, emergency, and aviation use.
Cambium solves this problem with optically tunable, frame-agnostic eyewear that integrates seamlessly with helmets, straps, and headgear. They represent a whole new level of LEP form, function, and survivability, meet ANSI Standards and Military Specifications for safety ratings. The Wayfarer design below is just one of the myriad form factors that will be available for military and commercial users.
Key Features of Cambium’s LEP Eyewear:
Unmatched Laser Protection–Shields against laser dazzle without sacrificing clarity.
Slim, Ergonomic Design–Compatible with helmets and tactical gear.
Wide Field of View–Essential for situational awareness.
Customizable Comfort–Optional cork or foam touchpoints for a tailored fit.
Innovative Magnetic Stay-Open Feature–Enhanced usability in high-stakes environments.
Cambium’s LEP program was born out of a collaboration with U.S. Department of Defense through the Bioindustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem (BioMade) and the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake, and now includes late-stage prototyping and performance optimization with the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Warfighter Performance division. Working with military laboratory and recognized third-party testing authorities, these eyeglasses will now be tested independently to affirm and validate Cambium’s internal safety and performance data.
“It’s easy to block laser light—basic safety glasses can do that. Cambium is delivering something far superior: LEP eyewear that protects against laser and ballistic threats with visual acuity and color contrast in mission-critical situations, protecting Warfighters and First Responders alike” said Simon Waddington, Cambium’s Co-founder and CEO. “Our PFAS-free, domestically manufactured eyewear is a game-changer, ensuring the highest level of protection without compromise. Cambium’s Enhanced Survivability Optics & Eyewear Program is just part of our commitment to rapidly designing and developing better, faster, more cost-justifiable defense tech for the U.S. and its Warfighters and allies”.
