A

s Israel’s war in Gaza grinds 
into its seventh month, the 
toll of battle is measured in 
funerals, hostages held captive and 
injuries — injuries of all types and 
severity suffered by Israel Defense 
Force (IDF) soldiers.
Among the injuries suffered fre-
quently by front-line IDF fighters are 
those to the eyes, caused by shrapnel 
and explosions, as well as bullet rico-
chets in the form of shards of stone, 
sand, glass, metal and concrete as well 
as the blasts from rockets, grenades, 
shells and improvised explosive devic-
es (IEDs).
Dr. Gabriel Sosne, an Oak Park 
ophthalmologist and teacher at Wayne 
State medical school, has 
been busy with colleagues 
from his medical specialty 
since a month following 
Oct. 7, soliciting charita-
ble contributions to pay 
for special glasses that 
can protect IDF combat 
troops from injury, potentially saving 
them from blindness, vision impair-
ment or even death.
“One grain of sand that strikes the 
cornea can cause serious problems,” 
Sosne said. Armed combat in urban 
and built-up neighborhoods and at 
close quarters is especially dangerous 
to the eyes. The latest information 

Local ophthalmologist wants 
to provide protective glasses 
for IDF soldiers.

Dr. Gabriel 
Sosne

DORON LEVIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ERETZ

38 | APRIL 4 • 2024 
J
N

Local ophthalmologist wants 
to provide protective glasses 

suggests that up to 20% of combat injuries 
are related to the eyes, he said.
“The glasses IDF troops have been given 
aren’t really protecting them,” Sosne said. 
“They’re heavy, don’t fit well, fog up and 
break.” 
As a result, he said, many soldiers don’t 
wear them because of their shortcomings. 
“
American soldiers in Iraq faced the same 
problems.”
“There is a special type of glasses — 
Rudy Project’s Rydon sp53 — that cost 
$250 a pair; they’re made from a special 

substance and do a fantastic job. We’re 
raising money to donate as many as pos-
sible, first of all to the front-line combat 
soldiers,” he said.
Reports of eye injuries to soldiers 
has prompted the IDF to tell KAN, the 
news service branch of Israel Public 
Broadcasting, that there is no lack of pro-
tective equipment and that injuries have 
resulted from troops failing to wear the 
equipment, as required.
Named Ayin L’Tzion — Eyes to Zion, a 
phrase from Israel’s national anthem — the 

An IDF solder 
wears the 
protective glasses.

Protecting 
Solders’ 
Vision

