Wide field spherical lenses and protective eyewear

Sunglasses including an edged lens having a first optical surface which lies within a spherical shell defined by two concentric spheres having radii whose length differs by no more than 2 mm, the smaller of the radii being no more than 50 mm in length and wherein at least two points O and Q on the edge of the surface subtend an angle OPQ greater than 80° with respect to a center P of the shell, wherein the lens is mounted in eyewear such that a center of curvature of the anterior surface is located approximately on the centroid of rotation of an eye of the wearer in an as-worn position.

Protective spectacles comprising:

• left and right lenses each having at least a front spherical surface, each spherical surface having a radius of curvature less than 35 mm;
• and
• means for supporting the lenses on the face of the wearer so that the center of the spherical surface of each of the left and right lenses is located approximately on the centroid of rotation of the left and right eye, respectively, wherein the supporting means includes left and right temple pieces and a nose bridge and wherein each lens is sufficiently large to provide a field of view greater than 55° in the temporal direction from the forward line of sight of each eye, respectively, and means associated with each lens for at least partially blocking transmission to the respective eye of radiation incident on the lens.

Spectacles comprising:

• left and right lenses each having a spherical front surface with the same first radius of curvature between 25 mm and 35 mm and a spherical back surface;
• and
• spectacle frames including left and right temple pieces and a nose bridge for supporting the lenses on the face of the wearer, so that the centers of the spherical front surfaces of each of the left and right lenses are located approximately on the centroids of rotation of the left and right eyes, respectively.