# How Meta’s AI glasses are transforming the lives of blind veterans across America > Source: > Published: 2026-07-07 18:01:39+00:00 - Ray-Ban Meta glasses assist blind veterans in reading, navigation, object identification and other daily tasks. - Donald Overton regained independence using Meta glasses after blast injury blinded him during first Gulf War service. - Veterans receive hands-on training and monthly webinars to learn and troubleshoot the glasses’ technology. - Glasses normally cost $200-$800 but are free for eligible veterans. Meta announced it will be donating Ray-Ban Meta glasses to every blind veteran in America. The glasses can be used to read text, answer phone calls, navigate daily tasks, and identify and locate objects — all by voice command. “These veterans sacrificed their sight in service to our country,” said Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth in a [press release](https://about.fb.com/news/2026/06/free-ai-glasses-for-every-blind-veteran/). “Giving them technology that can meaningfully navigate the world around them is a profound honor for us and underscores the importance of why we build.” More than 130,000 blind American veterans are eligible to receive glasses, Meta reports, and the program began with the story of one soldier. ### ‘I got my independence back’ U.S. Army veteran Donald Overton entered an ordnance bunker in Iraq during the first Gulf War, unaware he’d seen his last sunrise. A detonation inside the bunker struck Overton in the face, causing a [blast injury](https://cdmrp.health.mil/cwg/stories/2014/overton_profile) that rendered him blind. After being medically retired from the Army, Overton attended multiple rehabilitation centers that aided his recovery. The deepest wound, however, was beyond a physical injury. “Losing your eyesight is debilitating,” Overton [said](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1523193049588947). “You lose your independence, right?” Modern technology offers a solution. “The moment I put on my Ray-Ban Meta glasses, I got my independence back,” Overton said. “Meta glasses have changed my life.” ### Meta technology is ‘far more than a pair of glasses’ Overton is one of more than 130,000 veterans eligible to receive a free pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, along with hands-on training from Meta and its partners that teach veterans how to use the technology. Through monthly webinars and in-person events, veterans can ask questions, participate in real-time troubleshooting and connect with other participants. “For the more than 130,000 veterans living with blindness, this extraordinary gift from Meta is far more than a pair of glasses — it’s the ability to read a letter, navigate the world, and reclaim their independence," said Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that honors military veterans, in a press release. Overton said using Meta glasses has helped him “integrate back into society.” “I can now go out to dinner with my wife and we can have a normal date night,” Overton said, demonstrating how the glasses can help him find an outfit in his closet and read the restaurant menu to him. ### All eligible American veterans are only a few clicks away from their free pair Ray-Ban Meta glasses [usually cost](https://www.meta.com/ai-glasses/shop-all/?utm_productname=ray-ban&utm_source=gg&utm_medium=ps&utm_campaign=20687046217&utm_term=smart%20ray%20bans&utm_content=774259263987&utm_ad=152079980782&utm_location=9029753&utm_location2=&utm_placement=kwd-1393520318374&utm_device=c&utm_matchtype=b&utm_feed=&utm_adposition=&utm_product=&ads_rl=9213737374&&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20687046217&gbraid=0AAAAAo_xvTkDiLasJTuqRYKJnfyojeNxP&gclid=CjwKCAjwpK3SBhASEiwAtV1SPJj0UIEOqMlYtG_7RdOtDlbsPZzHeUNZ8vntqtuQ470RAWqkvgN75RoC12gQAvD_BwE) between $200 and $800, depending on the model. Eligible veterans can access them for free by requesting a pair through [bva.org/glasses](http://bva.org/glasses) or through a veteran organization collaborating with [TechSoup](https://page.techsoup.org/metadonation). “As a person who is blind, aside from my white cane and guide dog, I never leave home without my Meta glasses,” said Thomas Panek, president and CEO of the Lighthouse Guild, a nonprofit that supports people who are blind or visually impaired. “They are not only the most useful technology ever developed for the blind, they look pretty cool too.”