Historical Overview
The story of the Oakley brand began in 1975 when Jim Jannard founded the company. Initially, they produced motorcycle accessories, and in 1980, they introduced the O-Frame motocross goggles, which became a huge success among athletes. The first sunglasses model, the Factory Pilot Eyeshades, appeared in 1984 and immediately revolutionized eye protection for athletes. Oakley quickly became popular among extreme sports enthusiasts, athletes, and outdoor adventurers, and the brand's name has since become synonymous with quality and innovation.
Technological Innovations of Oakley
Over the years, Oakley has introduced numerous technological innovations that significantly distinguish their products from other sunglasses on the market. These advancements not only improve the quality and durability of the lenses but also enhance the sharpness and comfort of vision for the wearer. Let's take a closer look at these technologies:
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Plutonite Lens Material:
Plutonite is Oakley's patented lens material. It is a high-quality polycarbonate that is lightweight yet highly resistant to impact and ultraviolet radiation. This material meets the highest safety standards while providing excellent optical clarity and comfort.
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Oakley High Definition Optics (HDO):
Oakley's High Definition Optics (HDO) technology ensures superior optical clarity, meeting the optical performance requirements of the ANSI Z87.1 standard. HDO lenses improve three key aspects: refractive power, optical clarity, and prismatic power correction. The result is a lens that provides precise, distortion-free vision across the entire field of view.
- Hydrophobic Lenses:
Oakley's hydrophobic lens treatment repels water, oil, sweat, and dust, making the lenses easy and quick to clean.
- Impact Protection:
Oakley lenses and frames offer unparalleled protection against high-speed and high-mass impacts. Tests involve shooting a quarter-inch steel shot at the lenses and frames at 102 mph and dropping a 500-gram metal spike from a height of 127 cm. Oakley lenses and frames consistently exceed the standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
- UV Protection:
Oakley lenses provide excellent protection against ultraviolet radiation. Oakley's Plutonite lens material blocks 100% of all UVA, UVB, and UVC rays, as well as harmful blue light. The protection is not just a thin surface layer but is part of the material itself, ensuring that the lenses do not scratch and lose their effectiveness.
- Iridium Lens Coatings:
Oakley's Iridium lens coatings allow for the regulation of light transmission to suit any lighting condition. The coatings are fused to the lens surface with superheated metallic oxides, creating a uniform filtering layer that optimizes contrast and minimizes glare.
- PRIZM Technology:
Oakley's PRIZM lenses use sport-specific dyes to filter the light spectrum, enhancing contrast and reducing glare for specific sports, environments, and conditions. PRIZM lenses are made by melting Plutonite and adding dyes to achieve the desired color and tint. Since the dye is infused into the lens rather than applied as a coating, the UV protection and color-enhancing properties cannot be scratched off.
- Polarized Lenses:
Oakley's HD Polarized lenses far exceed industry standards for clarity, performance, and durability. Oakley uses an injection-molding process to embed the polarizing filter into the lens material at a molecular level. This process minimizes optical distortion and haze, which are common with traditional laminated or molded polarized lenses.
