Iridian Spectral Technologies Ltd. launched its line of laser reflection glasses after being approached by a coalition of aviation safety officials concerned about the dramatic rise of laser incidents.

Last year, there were 663 laser strikes directed at aircraft in Canada — a 32 per cent increase from the previous year — and an eight-fold increase from 2008. In the United States, there are an average of 18 laser illumination incidents that affect aircraft each day.