Testimonials

No matter which area of human endeavor you may be involved in, there nearly always is some risk of an accident. Once in a great while, you'll hear about a rare, but serious, freak accident that occurred in the course of R/C modeling. We're all put on notice by such stories to take the greatest care at the flying field to promote the safe enjoyment of the sport of R/C.

The Zurich sunglasses shown on the right protected Gene M. Phillps of Puyallup, WA, from injury that could have resulted from such an accident. Take a look at the pock mark in the lens. This is a story worth retelling, and here it is in Gene's own words:

"It's strange to admit this, but I bought my Zurich R/C sunglasses for the wrong reason. I got them because they're the best sunglasses I've ever worn, Let's face it, accidents happen to those reckless guys at the field, not safety-minded people like me, right?

Wrong. I was recently given a reminder that accidents can happen to anybody. It wasn't even my plane. I was standing about 10 feet to the right and even with the tail of a plane while talking to someone. The plane was held nose high, with the throttle run up to check the mixture. Several things happened in the space of a few seconds. As I glanced to my left at the plane, something hit my glasses. There was a strange popping sound and a thud to my head as though someone had hit me with a club. The engine stopped running. Out of curiosity I went over and inspected the prop. The prop was fine.

I took off my glasses and had a look at them. Almost dead center on the left lens was a dent. It took a few minutes, but we finally figured out that the glow plug had loosened and exited the engine at bullet-like velocity. I don't even like to think about the possibility of losing my eye if I had not been wearing my Zurich sunglasses. I saved the glasses as a reminder, and so I could show the company when they came to the Puyallup show. They very graciously exchanged the old pair for a new one. I will always wear my Zurich's at the field; I've learned that glow plugs, propellers and such can't tell the safety-minded guys from the reckless ones."

Darren Holden from Zurich notes, "It gives me sort of a nice warm feeling to realize the claims of Zurich sunglasses to withstand a 12-gauge shotgun blast from 30 feet not only applies to our hobby, but that one person probably saved his eye because of wearing them-wow!"

I agree with Darren; this is an impressive story. Readers may have seen Zurich glasses praised before in these pages and in those of other modeling magazines. In addition to being "safety glasses," Zurich sunglasses are among the finest in terms of giving your eyes genuine relief when you're out in the sun for hours on end. This has to do with the clarity of the lens and their ability to filter out UV radiation. On more than one occasion, when covering major modeling events that last a few days, I've wound up wearing Zurich glasses because my eyes were more comfortable with them than with other glasses (and I always take extra sunglasses).

At Top Gun, I became aware of a product that not only interested me, but became very useful as well.

To make a long story short, that hot, glaring Florida sun was playing havoc with my eyesight during the morning rounds. Zurich Sunglasses came to my rescue with the absolute best pair of sunglasses I've ever worn, and let me tell ya, I've worn plenty.

These "Zurich" sunglasses filter out so much of the harmful rays that if you're flying near the sun, you can still see your airplane. Talk about safe! So, you're not gonna get a commercial for Zurich sunglasses out of Mr. Sporty Scale this month. What you are going to get is an honest suggestion that each and every reader of this column take a moment to think about how valuable your eyesight is and how important it is to be able to see our aircraft at certain times of the day.

With that in mind, call Zurich and order a pair of these great, protective, sunglasses. Yes, they come in lots of colors and yes, they even fit over your regular prescription eyewear. Sixty bucks and worth every dime.

Dear Bruce: November 16, 1990

On the 12th of July I stood on top of Mt. Rainier in Washington State, making that the final and 50th peak that I reached in my cross country odyssey. It had taken me 101 days to summit in all 50 states on mountains ranging from the balmy 351 ft. Britton Hill in Florida to the freezing summit of Mt. McKinley (also called Denali) in Alaska at 20,320 ft.

Returning home was of course a super feeling after all that adventuring, but it was made even better by your kind gift.

Thank you for your help in the expedition. The Zurich sunglasses that I used were great. They are a necessity when climbing and hiking in the bright sun that I encountered throughout the country. On snow covered mountains protection from the direct and reflected sunlight is crucial. Not only did your sunglasses protect my eyes but they changed intolerable glare into comfortable light and increased visibility because of that. They were especially suitable for me as I was able to wear them over the top of my prescription glasses, something that I am not usually able to do.

As mentioned in your letter of July 20th (how time flies), I would be happy to let you use material from my expedition in your advertising. Most of my photographs are currently away being looked at by Hi-Tec but on their return I shall see if there are any that might be of interest to you. The only exception to use of the material would be in the case of a conflict with Hi-Tec in which case they would it would be subject to approval by Hi-Tec.

I would be happy to keep you in touch with my future plans and hope to work with you then.

Thanks again and best wishes,
Adrian Crane

A volunteer organization dedicated to saving lives through rescue and mountain safety education

Zurich International Corporation: 20 June 1990

Zurich's polycarbonate wraparound sunglasses are the best choice for serious mountaineers, trekkers or outdoor enthusiasts.

During our successful ascent of the north peak of Mt. Everest we found the Zurich Lexan High Tech Sunglasses to be the most remarkable ones any of us had ever used. They were unbreakable, gave us full 100% ultra-violet ray protection and were comfortable! We wore our Zurich’s during the entire expedition without eye or ear wear discomfort.

These sunglasses are the perfect combination of style, comfort and protection. Bravo to Zurich from Mt. Everest!

Sincerely,
Donald D. McIntyre
Technical Climbing Leader

The 1992 American Cho Oyo Expedition used Zurich sunglasses exclusively on its trek and attempted ascent of the world's 6th highest mountain.

The high impact, lexan dual tint sunglasses from Zurich were the lightest and most useful sunglasses any of us have used on any previous expedition. They blocked all UV rays at altitudes over 20,000 feet and consistently keep the wind out of our eyes. The wrap around design are a must for any climbing situation. The peripheral vision associate with this unique design is excellent and prevent eyestrain due to UV or bright reflected light from entering around the edges of the glasses.

Our Sherpas thought that these were the best glasses that they have used or worn. They especially liked the stylish colors and shapes. We would recommend these products to any serious outdoor enthusiasts who require the ultimate in UV protection, as well as stylish good looks!

I found the Zurich sunglasses protected against harmful sunlight rays as well as my own pair of glacier glasses, or any other type of glacier eyewear I have worn. Although I had no way of measuring percentage of the lenses' filtering capability, I noticed no eye discomfort at any time. The Zurich glasses fit and remained in position on the face well. There were no high winds during the climb to see if high winds effected their fit. I did notice some discomfort after wearing the Zurich glasses for an extended period of time (approximately 6 hours or more), where the ends of the temple pieces pressed against the boney area behind the ears. Other types of glacier glasses use a separate earpiece, made of a softer material than the temple piece, which wraps around the ear to hold the glasses in place, and eliminates pressure on the area behind the ear. This may not be noticed by others wearing the Zurich sunglasses; it may just be the way they happened to fit me.

Within the last year, I purchased two (2) pair of the Zurich Fashion sunglasses, to wear over my regular prescription glasses. I got a pair with the dark lens, teal finish and a pair with the rose lens, teal finish. I use both pairs, depending on weather conditions, while flying our radio control airplanes at our home field, The Ocala Flying Model Club, and while at work here on the Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, GA.

I am writing this, to "Thank You" for a fine quality product that saved my eyes this morning.

I was wearing the rose lensed pair, left them in place over my glasses and entered the shop area to ask the craftsman a question. I had no sooner entered the shop, when the spray nozzel departed an aerosol can of Brakkleen (?) brake cleaner and I took a pretty good dose in the face. Needless to say, my rose lensed pair of Zurichs are history and had I not been wearing them, so probably would have my eyesight. Again, from the bottom of my heart, Thank you for a quality product.

I thought you would want to know, so I am sending this from work. My home infor is as follows: John Lake Jr., 3417 Vacuna Road, Kingsland, GA 31548-4301, (912) 673-6713 e-mail: theranger545@tds.net

John Lake Jr
MHE Quality Control Inspector

I purchased a pair of glasses for over my progressive lens on Sunday afternoon at Sun n Fun. Yesterday afternoon I flew home from Florida to Maryland in the late afternoon. What an enjoyable flight. Previously I was wearing a pair of clip on that made reading instruments difficult in changing light. Usually had to take them off completely. The Zurich glasses over my progressives are GREAT. Never had such a clear view of the panel in all light. Thanks a million. Will be calling to order a few more pair for friends.

Louis Rubin

Hello:

I have been riding motorcycles for the better part of 50 years now and love these sunglasses; Original Extreme Glare Models.

I recently read an article in a major motorcycle magazine that told the story of a rider who had sunglasses that had safety glass lenses and were of the photo gray type.

Please do not let these type of sunglasses lead you to believing that you are safe from flying objects as this poor fellow found out.

He was hit with a rock in the lens and even though the stone did not penetrate the lens, it did cause it to shatter from behind and did embed glass in his eye which caused him some very serious problems.

That being said, I love these Zurich Original Extreme Glare sunglasses because they are made of polycarbonate and if you know anything about it they are used in bulletproof applications.

So, bottomline here is if you want sunglasses that will protect your eyes far better than anything made of glass, then look no further.

I even had my riding glasses lenses changed this time to polycarbonate for some added protection; two layers now; my glasses and my Zurich sunglasses.

This is just my opinion from info gathered, and I have some testing knowledge about polycarbonate.

Most of you folks may not know this product by its generic name, but GE Lexan is a registered trademark for their polycarbonate.

For you engineering types, click this link for more technical data:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate

Ride Safe.

Sincerely,
Bud Holewinski, Gold Wings Rule!!

Hello my name is Jerome.

I just got a pair of your sunglasses and they work very well. When I first wrote to you folks I stated that I had just flown my plane into the sun and lost it resulting in a crash.

The first time I used your sunglasses, I noticed how clear they made things and how well they cut out the glare. I purposely flew my plane into the sun and never lost track of it.

Thank you for the great glasses and I will tell everyone of my flying buddies how well they work!
Great glasses.

Thank again
Jerome

These tired old eyes of mine have tracked R/C model airplanes around the sky for over twenty years now. And it's nearly sixty years of general use. Naturally, I want to do everything possible to keep them in good operating condition for many years to come.

It was an article by Dr. Charles Lederer M.D. (Opthamologist), "R/C Flying and Ultraviolet Light" in the April 1988 issue of "R/C Report" that first alerted me to the potential dangers of ultraviolet (UV) light rays. UV rays are suspect to causing eye problems such as cataracts, pterygium (corneal damage), and senile macular degeneration (retina damage). These eye problems are also associated with the aging process, but there is evidence that UV's accelerate them and may also affect their severity. I don't recall reading anything about UV dangers in model magazines until I read Dr. Lederer's article, or if I did read something, it didn't register. But this time I immediately had my prescription sunglasses coated for UV protection, and have worn coated sunglasses for flying ever since.

I recently read in columns appearing in the October issue of two different model magazines (not in "R/C Report") about Zurich USA sunglasses. In both instances the writers were enthusiastic about the reduced glare and the enhanced clarity with which objects were viewed, and the maximum LTV protection afforded by these sun-glasses. They are wrap around design which keeps the wind from getting in your eyes while flying a model and standing sideways to the wind. For example, our winds are usually from the north or south. I take off into the wind and do most of my flying facing east. The temples are vented to resist fogging. Zurich's are not available in prescriptions, but they fit over most regular glasses including mine. I prefer large lenses for my glasses, so if they fit mine, I am pretty sure they will fit anybody's.

Zurich's offer a choice of natural gray, rose, or amber base lens colors. Gray is recommended for all around activities, so this is the color I chose. There is a mirror finish outer coating to reflect glare, while the base lens protects your eyes from UV. The outer coating can be in one of several solid colors, or in a single gradient. Single gradient lenses have a heavier amount of coating on the top two thirds with the least amount of coating on the bottom. This blocks glare in the line of sight, but allows more light through the bottom for better visibility of instruments, charts, gauges, and modeling activities such as assembling your model at the flying site or adjusting the engine before takeoff, while still providing 100% UV protection. The break between heavier and lighter coating coincides with my bifocals, so I can easily see what I am doing while working on my model at the field. Most of my flying buddies are now using some form of wrap around sunglasses. They got them through the mail or at a trade show. We compared our glasses at the flying site and mine seem to have a noticeable improvement in glare reduction.

While working on this column, I went flying at the Woodland Aeromodelers' flying site near Woodland, CA. A flyer there splashed some fuel in his eye while trying to start his engine. He rinsed his eye with water and said it felt better, but decided to visit the hospital emergency room as a precautionary measure. If he had been wearing some form of eye protection, it could have saved him a lot of aggravation, and the cost of a trip to the emergency room.

I'm probably the most skeptical son-of-a-gun when it comes to sunglasses. I suffer very badly in strong light, not only by day but at night, too. I think I have tried every brand of sunglasses made, but have never found any relief until now.

Garry Korpi of RC Online wears his Zurich Sunglasses while flying his full scale J3 Cub and Glassair as well as when racing his giant scale AT-6 racer for Area 51 Racing.

I've bought both the Zurich mirror-finish grey glasses and the yellow ones, and I probably wouldn't have been that generous will myself had I not heard the comments made by some of the pilots of the full-size Reno racers. They were absolutely ecstatic over these sunglasses. My regular prescription lenses have a very deep curve, and I hadn't found sunglasses that would fit over these lenses.To my surprise, these Zurich glasses fit right over my prescription glasses.

The Zurich glasses provide relief from glare, and the graduated tint is just right so that the darkest part seems to end right at the top edge of the instrument panel in a car or in the cockpit of an aircraft, so I can see the instruments with no problem.

With such attributes, you can imagine how well they suit me for R/C flying. A slight tilt of the head allows me to go from dark to very light in my viewing field.

One of the most pleasant surprises was the yellow-tint glasses. On a hazy day, I took them off and found my visibility quite restricted. I did not really appreciate just how much they improved visibility under these conditions!

I'm not related to anyone at Zurich Sunglasses, and my only connect with the company is as a highly satisfied user. I highly recommend these glasses to fellow flyers and R/Cers.

Like most people, I hate to open up the daily paper and read all the medical scare stories about how you shouldn't eat this, or you shouldn't do that, and about the dire consequences we face in almost everything we do. So if that kind of news frightens you or turns you off, then skip this article and go on to reading something less unpleasant. However, as a lifetime modeler and a professional optometrist, I feel it is my duty to bring certain facts to the attention of the aeromodeling community, and I sincerely advise all my flying comrades to pay close attention to what I have to say.

RC flyers as a group suffered far more UV damage to the eyes than was considered normal.

It all started back in the sixties when I was serving as an optometrist in the U.S. Navy. During my career I would get transferred to a new area every couple of years. Of course, as an avid RC enthusiast, I would join up with the local model club wherever I was sent, and in this manner I made a great many flying friends, both military and civilian types. As one might expect, many of my flying buddies would come to me for eye exams over the years, and little by little I came across a significant observation. It appeared that a statistically much higher number of these RC pilots turned out to have cataracts and other eye ailments than I was finding in the general population. Not only was I seeing more cataracts among these folks, but the condition was turning up at younger ages than we have been led to expect.

To me, the conclusion was fairly obvious, and I was convinced that RC flyers as a group suffered far more UV damage to the eyes than was considered normal, all because we spent so much time staring up almost directly at the source of harmful ultraviolet radiation. One can imagine the geometrical increase in UV exposure when the gaze is not straight ahead, but elevated to look at the sky on a sunny day. I began to caution my patients against spending time in the sun without UV protection, and those who regularly engaged in high glare pursuits were given even more lengthy lectures on eye protection. This group included not only RC flyers, but also boating fans, fishermen, skiers, and full scale pilots.

I did all I could to spread the word, and to find what was the best eye protection available.

It wasn't until 1985 when the full import of my discovery hit me in a very personal way, as I developed highly premature cataracts with multiple visual complications. This brought about a dozen or so eye operations, and while the damage was great, most of my vision was eventually restored by heroic medical measures.

Previous to the onset of these frightening episodes, my use of sun protective eyewear was very sporadic, and I often used no protection at all. As one can imagine, overnight I changed from a mere preacher of the gospel of UV protective lenses to a full fledged born again convert! I did all I could to spread the word, and to find what was the best eye protection available. I remembered that back in my navy days we used to supply pilots with neutral gray tinted sunglasses provided by the major ophthalmic companies in the country, primarily Bausch & Lomb and the American Optical Company, These sunglasses still rank among the best available, but they do have a couple of major shortcomings. The primary one is that they are available only in non-prescription forms, and so are of no use to those who wear prescription glasses. Secondly, they afford protection from UV sources located directly in front of the eyes, but do not adequately stop harmful radiation coming from above, below, or to the sides. Therefore, I had little recourse but to rely on neutral gray tints and coatings applied to my regular prescription eyeglasses.

I felt like a blind person who had just regained his sight!

Enter Boyd E. Newman of Zurich Sunglasses, who I ran into displaying his products at a Las Vegas trade show. Boyd was selling a wrap around sunglass which at first glance looked similar to the cheapies sold at the local drugstore. Boyd had no idea who I was, and when he offered me a pair of sunglasses to try on, proclaiming them to be the finest protective eyewear available, I smiled and started to decline his offer, thinking he was just another purveyor of cheap Taiwan sunglasses. But then I looked into his eyes and the sincerity and honesty I saw there persuaded me to slip them on. He urged me to step outside into the harsh midday desert sunlight, and on doing so, I was startled by what appeared to me to be a new dimension of vision. The clarity and comfort I experienced were so superior to anything I had ever tried, that I felt like a blind person who had just regained his sight!

The sunglasses Boyd had me try were called "Zurich R/C Sunglasses." I have worn them exclusively over my prescription glasses for the past ten years or so. Because of their wrap around construction, they protect my eyes from radiation coming from every direction, and their shatter resistance has warded off potential eye injury more than once.

There is no better UV protection for the eyes than is provided by Zurich R/C sunglasses.

I have examined results of extensive scientific tests of these sunglasses, including spectral transmission findings and penetration testing, and rather than burden the reader with exact facts and figures, let me tell you my professional conclusion. In my opinion, there is no better UV protection for the eyes than is provided by Zurich R/C sunglasses, not to mention their they are made of Prescription Quality Polycarbonate, an extremely tough material which will deflect almost any flying projectile. Furthermore, they come in various tints and gradient shades, with a variety of state-of-the art optical coatings, any one of which will provide the protection you need.

The bottom line is that my retinal and cataract problems seem to have been stopped cold from the day I started using this product.. I've had no further eye problems, and I intend to use these sunglasses every time I step out into the daylight. Notice, I did not say "sunlight," because harmful UV radiation exists even though the sky may be heavy with clouds or overcast. Oh, if I had only started wearing them ten or twenty years ago!

I find it necessary to now warn the model flying enthusiasts.

I was so enthusiastic over this product that I immediately wrote an article in a leading RC publication in praise of my Zurich R/C Sunglasses, and the consumer response was almost overwhelming. Zurich still continues to sell their sunglasses in great numbers, and certainly doesn't need any help from me in that respect. However, I find it necessary to now warn the model flying enthusiasts once again about a new problem that has come to my attention, that of skin cancer occurring in the eye area. Recent findings have confirmed that the effect of sun damage around the eyes can vary anywhere from non- malignant which results in loss of eyelid elasticity, to full blown malignant melanomas, which can be life threatening in many cases.

Furthermore, according to the American Optometric Association, "Ninety percent of basal cell carcinomas are found around the eye, mostly in the lower lid. Experts theorize that's because that lid is most exposed to overhead ultraviolet radiation." Strangely enough, I've had my share of facial skin lesions due to ultraviolet exposure, some slight, and some more serious, but I have never had one in the area of my eyes, and I am certain that was because of my constant use of Zurich R/C Sunglasses.

A representative will be happy to supply you with any further information.

As if all this isn't daunting enough, latest findings show that the annual average amount of UV-B, the portion of the ultraviolet spectrum that causes the most damage, has increased 9.9 percent per decade at the southernmost portions of Argentina and Chile. The changes in North America are smaller, about 4 percent increase for areas near the U.S.-Canadian border, said the study published in Geophysical Research Letters. By extrapolating, we can assume that the average increase in harmful ultra violet radiation in the United States is around seven percent just over the past ten years!

Now if you've read this far, I earnestly hope my efforts have served to make you a believer that the sun has become the enemy of those who frolic excessively in its bright rays. I suggest that those who are interested in effectively shielding their eyes from the ravaging effect of nature contact Zurich Sunglasses without delay at 9418 Snow Lake Place • Elk Grove, CA 95758, or phone them at (800) 533-5665. A representative will be happy to supply you with any further information about these miraculous sunglass products.

If you would like to discuss any eye related RC problems with me, you can do so via E-mail, where you can contact me at: neveragain@juno.com, Dr. Art Steinberg, O.D.

Dear Zurich:

Received my Zurich sunglasses yesterday and used them today while flying my model aircraft. All I can say is wow, they are clearer than the prescription sunglasses I had. They gave me a wider field of view with no distortion than the prescription and clip-on sunglasses I have used in the past. Great product!

They are worth every penny of the purchase price and a lot cheaper than the $250 plus that I have to pay for prescription sunglasses.

Bob Emery
December 8, 2004

Hi Bruce,

Just a note to say THANKS for a great product. Being one of those people that sets the cash register ringing when I walk into an eye doctor's office, I really appreciate quality eyewear.

For the first time in my life, when wearing the "Zurichs" I can now go outside on a sunny day and not squint. I'm 47, and an in-active reserve Marine (no such thing as an Ex-Marine) and I don't compliment very many products, but yours is an exception. (Please don't take this as an endorsement by the United States Marine Corps. I'm not in a position to do that. This is only my opinion.)

That being said Thanks Again.
Rich Madsen

November 15, 2005

Bruce Holden
Zurich International/Zurich USA
9418 Snow Lake Place
Elk Grove, CA 95758

Dear Bruce,

I like to convey to you what happened to me several years ago. While i was teaching a young man how to start his trainer's engine, unexpectedly the spinner came off and hit my right eye area, I have made it an important habit to wear my Zurich original glasses whenever near and around model airplanes and I am sure glad I was wearing them on that day. A small dent was left by the spinner which bounced off my glasses. I have eight pair in every color and shade and look forward to the new Z2.

Thank you for a great product,

Tony di Leo, COO
TdL Model Systems

Dear Sirs,

My name is Bonnie Mikoleit, and I purchased my first pair of Zurich Sunglasses about 14 years ago at the Long Beach boat show. I have LOVED them since the first time I put them on! Even though it was so long ago, I remember paying $65 for them and so many times over the years have thought it was the best $65 I ever spent on anything!! I need to get a new pair, but do not have a dealer or distributor close to me. I live in the city of Orange, in Orange County, CA. The glasses I have had for these many years have the magenta tint. I would absolutely want to stay with this color and style. I miss my Zurich’s so much now, because I drive a convertible every day, and unless it is raining, very foggy, or very cold, I have the top down. None of the (other) sunglasses that I have worn even come close to being as good as my Zurich’s.

Thank you for your great product and for the customer service that I have always received over the years! Any information or assistance you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Bonnie Mikoleit
Newport Beach, CA