Kevin Whitley, the woodshop instructor at the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, uses eyeglasses with assistive technology. He used them to navigate the duty-free shop at the Oslo airport last year.
Emilia Nidoy uses glasses enhanced with technology to navigate her life. Meta partnered with Ray-Ban to create AI-assisted eyeglasses. While not without controversy for their "x-ray" capabilities, they are helpful with people who are blind or low vision.
Like a scene from the 1950s or a lost episode of "Mad Men," it's not unusual to see people at the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired sporting a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. While they may look stylish, these smart glasses have become much more than a fashion accessory for people who are blind or have low vision.
When Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses first hit store shelves in September 2021, they were marketed to consumers as a hands-free way to access music, take photos and videos, and interact with an AI-powered voice assistant. Content creators, photographers, and professionals quickly embraced the glasses for their built-in cameras and convenience. What Meta and Ray-Ban may not have anticipated, however, was how valuable the technology would become for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Although they were not the intended target market, blind and low-vision users quickly discovered practical applications for the glasses. By providing hands-free access to smartphone features and apps, the glasses can significantly increase independence. Users can launch assistive applications such as Be My Eyes with simple voice commands, eliminating the need to handle a smartphone.
Be My Eyes is a free app that connects users with volunteers from around the world. Using a live video feed from either a smartphone camera or the cameras built into the glasses, volunteers can provide real-time assistance. Whether helping someone navigate an unfamiliar environment or locate a dropped item, the app effectively gives users an extra set of eyes when they need it most.
Staff member Kevin Whitley, who is blind, regularly uses his Ray-Ban Meta glasses while traveling. Last year, Kevin was returning from a ski trip and passing through the Oslo Airport in Norway when he decided to leave his gate to visit the duty-free shop so he could buy chocolates for friends and family back home. Using only his voice, he launched the Be My Eyes app through his glasses. A volunteer then guided him safely to the store and back, allowing him to travel independently and confidently.
Clients at the center have also discovered the benefits of pairing the glasses with other assistive apps, such as Seeing AI. This free application offers several features designed for people with vision loss. One of its most popular functions is text recognition, which can instantly read printed text aloud. Users rely on it to read mail, identify product labels, review documents, or even browse restaurant menus.
At the time of this writing, first-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses can still be found for approximately $300. The second-generation models, released in 2023, retail for around $400 and offer improvements such as longer battery life, expanded voice-command capabilities, and enhanced camera performance.
In 2025, Oakley introduced its own version of the smart glasses. While the underlying technology is similar, Oakley's wraparound design provides additional protection from glare, a feature that can be especially beneficial for individuals with low vision. Oakley smart glasses typically retail for around $500.
These glasses are not for everyone. Individuals who are uncomfortable with technology or do not use smartphones may find them difficult to integrate into their daily lives. However, for those who embrace technology, smart glasses can be a powerful tool that promotes greater independence, accessibility, and confidence for people who are blind or have low vision.
Pete McCall is the older blind coordinator at the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
