Abstract: An article of eyewear for viewing a 3D display has at least one lens, wherein the at least one lens has a substrate lens material that is transparent to visible light and has a curved surface. A circular polarizer is formed on the substrate lens material and has a linear polarizer with a polarization axis and a quarter wave plate with a retardation axis that is inclined at substantially 45 degrees from the polarization axis along the curved surface. Either or both of the linear polarizer and the quarter wave plate are formed as sub-wavelength elongated structure devices.

Abstract: An article of polarized eyewear has a lens, with a first substrate lens material transparent to visible light and a pattern of elongated structures formed from at least a second material having a complex index of refraction, wherein the second material is deposited directly onto a curved surface of the first substrate lens material. A pitch between adjacent elongated structures is less than 300 nm and a width of each elongated structure is less than 90% of the pitch. A photochromic material is deposited onto the polarized eyewear.

Abstract: An optical element has a substrate material having a pattern of cavities formed on a surface and a substantially transparent seal layer disposed against the surface. A photochromic or electrochromic material is sealed by the substantially transparent seal layer within the cavities formed in the surface.

Abstract: An article of polarized eyewear has a lens, with a first substrate lens material transparent to visible light and a pattern of elongated structures formed from at least a second material having a complex index of refraction, wherein the second material is deposited directly onto a curved surface of the first substrate lens material. A pitch between adjacent elongated structures is less than 300 nm and a width of each elongated structure is less than 90% of the pitch. A photochromic material is deposited onto the polarized eyewear.

Abstract: An article of polarized eyewear has a lens with a first substrate lens material transparent to visible light and a pattern of elongated structures formed from at least a second material having a complex index of refraction that is deposited onto a curved surface of the first substrate lens material. The pitch between adjacent elongated structures is less than 300 nm and the width of each elongated structure is less than 90% of the pitch.