CHineHat -
have you done much flying in Aircrew flying helmet, at lowish level, peering at a map with your head hangin' outside the downwash 2 to 3 hour sortie? Ear cups clamped tightly into the arms of your specs, digging into your head and behind your ears? Wind trying to pull your specs off? No? Mmm thought not - as you might imagine it is not comfortable and some decide it is much easier to do the job of going and picking up some poor mangled squaddie without the added discomfort! I don't think asking for contact lenses is too much to ask do you? After all if we are getting better, more comfortable body armour and better more comfortable armoured vehicles then why not have better more comfortable equipment for being able to friggin well see? Sounds like you are having an anti aircrew whinge and nothing else. Grow up.