Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL)

Meeting the Needs of Units with Diverse Requirements.

APEL Poster

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While body armor has increased Soldier survivability on the battlefield, lessons learned from recent conflicts have taught us we can expect 10 percent of injured Soldiers to have eye injuries. It is therefore imperative that leaders ensure that Soldiers wear their protective eyewear whenever engaging in field tactical operations, training, or other situations where there is risk of eye injury.

To help promote the use of protective eyewear, the list of approved protective eyewear has been expanded to offer Soldiers more choice. The standard Ballistic Laser Protective Spectacles (BLPS), Special Protective Eyewear Cylindrical System (SPECS), and Sun, Wind and Dust Goggle (SWDG) previously issued as standard protective eyewear has now been superseded with a number of commercially available products. The approved commercial eyewear provides ballistic fragmentation and ultraviolet protection, and are available with both clear and sunglass lenses. Note that for laser protection applications, soldiers should continue to use SPECS, BLPS, or SWDG at this time.

For Non-Prescription Users

For non-prescription users, any of the products listed under the Military Combat Eye Protection (MCEP) Program are authorized for use as alternatives to clear or gray lens SPECS, BLPS, and SWDG.

For Prescription Users

For Soldiers who require prescription lenses for spectacle applications, the UVEX XC or UVEX Genesis spectacle with Prescription Lens Carrier (PLC), ESS Crossbow spectacle with PLC, Oakley SI Ballistics M Frame 2.0 spectacle with PLC, Revision Sawfly spectacle with PLC, Smith Optics Aegis spectacle with PLC, and Wiley X Talon spectacle with PLC are authorized for use as alternatives to clear or gray lens SPECS and BLPS. For Soldiers who require prescription lenses for goggle applications, the ESS Land Operations goggle may be used as an alternative to the clear or gray lens SWDG for wear over prescription eyeglasses. The ESS Profile NVG goggle, Smith Optics Outside the Wire (OTW) goggle and Revision Desert Locust goggle may be used with their designated PLCs as other alternatives. Service members who require prescription lenses may obtain the appropriate PLC for their device through their garrison optometry clinic, deployed optometry clinic or medical support section. Deployed soldiers may also obtain replacement prescription lenses through the Government Eyewear System (G-Eyes). Use of any prescriptive lens or PLC that is not authorized for a specific MCEP approved spectacle or goggle may result in serious injury. It is strongly recommended that Soldiers use Army optometry clinics to obtain prescription correction for the MCEP items that support a PLC. Each MCEP approved item and its corresponding PLC have been tested and certified as a unit and have been placed on the Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL).

How to Order Authorized Eyewear

Units may order authorized commercial eyewear with an NSN by submitting funded MILSTRIP requisitions through normal supply channels to the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) General and Industrial (S9I). In addition, the Procurement center may also MIPR funds to the DSCP Prime Vendor Program to obtain items by part number and NSN. Units are encouraged to make large quantity purchases to request better pricing than the prices listed in FEDLOG. Soldiers are also able to purchase their eyewear individually through AAFES and Military Clothing and Sales stores. MCEP approved items that meet the ballistic safety standards evaluated and accepted by Soldiers will be marked with a neon green APEL approved sticker. Eyewear not marked with this decal should not be used in combat or training.

Approved Eyewear

The following eyewear listed are part of the eyewear that meets Army standards for ballistic protection. If you would like to provide feedback on an item in the list please click here to Provide Feedback.

Important Notices

** Qualified Products List (QPL) is a list of manufacturers who have had their products examined and tested and who have satisfied all applicable qualification requirements for that product. The QPL for eyewear protection is the Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL).**

** Please be advised that only eyewear on the Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL) have been validated against Army requirements for ballistic fragmentation protection. Other commercial eyewear products, even if marked ANSI Z87.1 compliant, do not necessarily meet military impact requirements. Eyewear not on the APEL are not authorized for wear during combat, training, or when there is a risk of impact injury to the eyes.**

** Please be advised only clear and neutral grey sunglass lenses are approved, with the exception of products with approved laser protective lenses. Non-laser commercial lens tints, such as yellow, are not approved for use due to their impact on color perception.**

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