ESS receives numerous emails and letters every week from customers happy with their ESS products, often thanking ESS for saving their eyesight and even their lives.  Below is a short sampling of the feedback that we receive from the field.

  • “The story behind my ESS goggles is as follows… On 07 April 2003, 1430hrs vic. Baghdad (obj. MOE), our vehicle took a direct hit from an overlooked RPG team to our left flank, destroying our TOW missile launcher and my Bradley commander’s hatch. I was hit in my neck, left shoulder and face with shrapnel, but thanks to my ESS goggles, my eyesight is still intact and no shrapnel penetrated my ESS goggle lenses at all. These goggles still have the shrapnel in the lens! I fought through the shrapnel and continued to bring the fight to the enemy. I believe that if the shrapnel would have hit my eyes that would have taken me and my crew out of a serious and historical fight that helped in the fall of the Saddam regime. Thank You Very Much for your wonderful product! I'm a believer in your product, protecting eyes ONE BATTLE AT A TIME.”
    SFC Morales, Aco 3rd BN 15th IN
  • Dear ESS, On Jan 11, 2007, I was conducting a blocking position in Iraq. I had removed my ESS CDI Sunglasses so that I could look through binoculars. The glasses were hanging around my neck by the strap when a sniper approximately 400 meters from our position shot me in the neck. The bullet struck the frame of the CDI glasses first and deflected away from my neck. Instead of entering at the neck and going into my torso, the bullet traveled down the outside between my back and my body armor leaving only minor wounds. It was a one in a million shot, and I know that God was watching out for me that day. Needless to say, I appreciate your protective sunglasses very much. Sincerely,
    SGT Anthony Erskine
  • I wanted to write and thank you for such an amazing product. Before my husband's deployment he found the "Advancer" system and told me how great he thought it looked. Shortly after he left I made the purchase as part of a package to surprise him. He loved them!! All the "little things" made a huge difference in his job as a gunner. Little did I know, he was going to be putting those goggles to the test just a few short weeks later. His truck was involved in an explosion and the goggles took a direct hit. His left lens received 4 pieces of shrapnel, but the only injuries he sustained on his face were outside the scope of the goggles. Thank you for saving my husband's eyes as well as those of so many other soldiers. You are not only providing a good product, but you are providing such a service to our country by making sure our men have a product they can trust such a valuable career necessity to. You have earned yourself a loyal customer. Thanks again.
    SPC and Mrs. Ryan Shaul
  • I am writing to show and tell you of the in-field performance of the fantastic protective eyewear ESS has developed. The attached photos were taken before and after a sniper attack outside of Mosul, Iraq, on July 3, 2006. I was positioned in the right rear hatch of my rolling Stryker when a sniper that had claimed the life of a fellow soldier and good friend three days prior struck again. This time, the sniper’s bullet hit my gun mount and continued on to fragment and splatter on the right lens of my ESS CDI sunglasses. While I was knocked down with the impact of the bullet, I suffered only minor injuries to my head and was back in action within the week. As strong testimony to the physical toughness of the CDI glasses, after the sniper attack I simply replaced the fractured lenses and continued to wear the glasses in combat for the remaining five months of duty in Baghdad. The frames were dinged a bit, but still functioned as new, even after taking a hit from a 7.62 sniper round. Many thanks to your product development department and all of those associated with making these fine products available to our brave young men and women that continue to fight the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.
    Sgt. Ross Shores, 172nd Stryker Brigade, 562nd Eng. Co
  • I wanted to thank your for your Advancer V-12 goggles. They are GREAT! So far we have used them for Military Free Fall, Shooting on the range, Close Quarters Combat, and Mounted Vehicle Operations. The goggles have been SUPERB! They are hands down the best ones I have ever used and are much more versatile than any others I have seen! Just wanted to let you know that we enjoy your product and look forward to seeing what other things your company develops in the future! V/R
    HM1 (SEAL)
  • We have tested the Eye Safety Systems goggles and are particularly impressed with the ESS Striker TurboFan. Its durability, reliability, function, and performance have proven to be a top choice for our trainees who work on S.W.A.T. teams. For those of us who must work in inclement weather-from humid, hot days and nights to frozen tundra in upstate NY winters-fogged eye systems are an intrinsic problem, one which you have answered. Form, function, and fit come together in you system and allow vision to be clearer and eyes to be protected.
    Ken Cooper, Director, Tactical Handgun Training of NY, Inc.
  • I would like to send you this letter stating how effective your Innerzone goggles have been to me. Last December, our department responded to a fully involved structural fire in which I was on the initial attack and search for two victims trapped inside. The heat was much more intense than other fires I have been in. Afterwards, upon inspecting my gear, I noticed that the goggles were in great shape after being unprotected on my helmet through this situation. We were recently dispatched to an auto accident where we had to extricate a victim from one of the vehicles. Our pressurized hydraulic line to the tool ruptured, and I thank my ESS goggles for protecting my eyesight and allowing me to continue working, even though I was covered in hydraulic fluid. Once again, these goggles have proven to me that they are effective and durable. Our whole department now uses ESS Goggles! Thank you!
    Travis Anderson, Firefighter/EMT, Enon Fire Department, OH
  • “Dear ESS, My name is SSgt Solomon, I’m a Marine from 29 Palms, California. I was in Iraq when I purchased the ESS CDI sunglasses. The glasses saved my eyesight. We were going down one of the main highways from Ramadi to Fallujah when an IED blew up next to my LAV25. I was engulfed in flames. I received shrapnel to the arms and face. The CDI smoke gray lenses have burnt spots where either hot metal or tar hit. I wish I had pictures; we had no time--we got into a firefight just after I was hit by the IED. Thank you for making a good product, the glasses protected my baby blues.”
    SSgt Solomon G. G.
  • “To whom it may concern: While stationed in Iraq I purchased a pair of High Adrenaline Recon sunglasses. On March 12, 2005 my vehicle was struck by an IED. I received some shrapnel wounds to my hand. Thankfully your sunglasses held true and deflected the shrapnel meant for my eyes. I really enjoy your sunglasses—thank you!”
    Sean Brooks, HM1
  • I purchased the ESS FLYBY sunglasses in the Baghdad PX and these sunglasses are the best sunglasses I have ever worn. As you know, the sun and dust here is brutal. I wear contact lenses and these glasses provide very good protection under these conditions here. Thank You!
    Lee R. Thrasher
  • Dear Sir, I thought you might like to hear that your product saved my vision tonight. I was shooting a semi-automatic pistol at an indoor range while wearing a pair of ICE glasses when I experienced a case detonation. Smoke, blast forces, fragmentation...bummer! I used a cloth to remove what I thought were powder flakes from the lenses. I noticed that both lenses were scored by high-speed primer and/or cartridge case. Scored but NOT penetrated (or even close may I add). Had I not been wearing my ICE glasses, I am convinced I'd be blind right now. So please accept my thanks for an excellent product. Best wishes,
    William Aprill, New Orleans
  • Dear ESS, As the Safety Officer and Protective Clothing Manager, I have been issuing ESS goggles for over four years. In fact, Metro Fire Sacramento has almost 1,300 pairs of ESS goggles in service. I have found the ESS goggle to be the best eye protection product available. Period. We appreciate your development of a great product and your commitment to firefighter safety and primary eye protection. Incorporating ESS goggles has been a benefit to our personnel and a 100% positive experience. I strongly recommend the use of ESS goggles to any fire department.
    Captain Michael McKenna, Safety Officer, Metro Fire Sacramento
  • I have to write to say what a great pair of goggles you have come up with. I was recently on a small brush fire and I was wearing my new ESS Wildland goggles for the second time. It was a quick-moving fire, and we were second or third in, so we were into the smoke pretty good. My eyes were clear and happy because of my new goggles. A captain from another engine who was rubbing his eyes under his sunglasses asked me, 'How are those new goggles?' I said, 'Great. My eyes don't hurt a bit.' As a matter of fact, because of the great fit, no smoke even made into my eyes. Our department issues the old tanker goggle from WWII, which doesn't seal around your eyes, is very uncomfortable, and warps during the off-season. Thanks--I hope more firefighters out there discover your great product.
    Michael Tyree, Firefighter, Orange County Fire Authority, CA
  • Dear ESS, I am a member of our regional USAR Task Force and have been using my ESS X-Tricator goggles for over a year. These are the best goggles I've ever used--durable, lightweight, and very comfortable. These goggles have held up superbly to the rigors of structural collapse, confined space, trench, and vehicle extrication situations. I have been using the same tear-off lens cover since I bought my goggles. Whenever the tear-off gets wet, muddy, or oily, I just clean and dry it with no loss of visibility.
    Jeffrey McDonough, Firefighter/Paramedic, USAR Rescue Tech, Cincinatti, OH
  • Dear Sir or Ma'am, I am COLT (Combat Observation Lazing Team) Platoon Leader for D Co 1-8 CAV, 1st Cavalry Division currently stationed in the Al-Rashid district of Southern Baghdad. I have personally been IED'd twice and been in several gun battles. I am emailing you because of my disgust with [competitor]. These goggles fog up and the lenses are garbage just waiting to be scratched. I have used your ESS goggles for 2 years now on countless air assault missions and now in country and have been made a believer. Thanks for the great gear!
    1LT Carson Spear, COLT Platoon Leader
  • Dear ESS: I just wanted to say "Thanks" for a good product that served me well during my time in the Gulf, and for the excellent customer service. I will be strongly recommending your products to my Marines if/when we end up deploying again. Your gear works as promised, a nice change from most over-hyped equipment. And, your response to my inquiry about buying new lenses for my goggles was simply excellent customer care. Thanks again,
    Sgt Sean Bell, USMCR
  • I am a deployed U.S. soldier with the 656 Trans Co. I was issued ESS goggles and I must say these goggles are far superior to previous models I have used in my military service. Thanks for making a great product!
    SSG, 544 MB BM
  • As you know, the Division got the Profile NVG Goggles. They have worked great! They work + Soldiers like them = They are worn! Appreciate it.
    LTC, 101st Airborne
  • Dear ESS, I am writing this letter to inform and thank you for the high quality of your eyewear. I am currently stationed in the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am the gunner on top of our HMMV and quality eye protection is of the utmost highest regard among us. A few days ago, I had a malfunction on my M2 caliber .50 machine gun. A round cooked off and exploded in the bolt assembly. Due to the placement of my head most of the explosion was taken by the eye protection on my face. If not for the ESS glasses that I was wearing at the time, I would have lost my eyesight indefinitely. The only damage that occurred was a few small cuts on my face. Thank you.
    SPC Jared Frenke
  • We have been using the ESS Flight Deck goggles for 6 weeks now, in weather conditions ranging from the mild temperatures and low humidity of Southern California to the high humidity/rain and high temperatures we have experienced during the last three weeks while operating in the Japan/Korea area. The goggles have received a resounding "thumbs up" for their improved comfort, field of vision, clarity, and durability.
    LCDR (CVW-2)
  • My name is Ssg Sharp. I the senior weapons sergeant on ODA 521 of 5th SFG (A) stationed at Ft Campbell. I am writing to express my thanks for your product and the obvious care and time that has went into the development of your goggles. On September 7 2004, my team was involved in operations in southern Iraq. The Humvee that I was gunning encountered an IED of unknown size, (an approximately 155mm artillery shell). The IED exploded ten feet from the vehicle. I sustained numerous injuries but none to my eyes or the area surrounding my eyes due to your goggles. The area of my face outside the goggles sustained heavy fragment and rock punctures. The lenses on my goggles sustained large scratches but no penetration of the lenses at all. I am writing to express my thanks and to keep up the good work. If it wasn’t for your goggles I would not have my eyesight today and possibly my life. Thank you,
    Ssg Dammon Sharp
  • We switched to your Innerzone II goggles from a flip down full-face shield. Everyone loves the goggles; there’s no need to carry safety glasses for auto extrication or other non-SCBA work, no lost safety glasses, etc. Thanks!
    Vincent M. Rovnak, Lake Erie Beach VFC
  • My name is SFC Smith. I am in the US Army in Iraq, and was recently hit by an IED. Had I not been wearing my ICE 2.4 I very well might have lost an eye. Thank you for the great product.
    SFC Smith
ESS eyewear features high-impact polycarbonate lenses, which can stop a shotgun blast from 35 feet.