Washington – October 13, 2026 -- Meta will give free Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses to every blind veteran in America, a group that includes more than 130,000 legally blind veterans who are eligible. The company and the nonprofit Lighthouse Guild showcased the technology at the Army Ten-Miler in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, October 11.
Glasses that read, describe and guide
The initiative is meant to give veterans AI-powered help with reading documents, identifying and describing their surroundings, navigating environments, completing everyday tasks and accessing information.
Eight runners, three blind Army veterans
Meta and Lighthouse Guild sponsored a team of eight runners. It included blind U.S. Army veterans Roosevelt Morring, Rob Sanchas and Shawntina Gibson, along with Lighthouse Guild President and CEO Thomas Panek. Panek was guided by Kelly Ingham, Meta's Vice President of AI Wearables and Research Partnerships.
Each blind runner on the team received a pair of Oakley Meta Vanguard AI glasses for the race. Human guides from Achilles International also ran with them. The team ran alongside thousands of active-duty service members, veterans and civilian runners.
Panek has run with AI glasses before
Earlier this year, Panek became the first blind person to complete a half marathon wearing Meta AI glasses, at the NYC Half.
"These veterans defended our freedom," Panek said, adding that they should not have to give up any of their own when they lose their sight. He said Lighthouse Guild's job is to help veterans use the glasses to their best abilities.
Meta frames the donation as access
Ingham said Meta is donating the glasses at no cost to blind veterans across the country because technology is only useful if it reaches the people who need it. She said the glasses give people more independence in everyday moments.
Sanchas, who lost his vision, described running with other veterans using the glasses as "pretty incredible" and said he hopes more blind veterans realize how much is still possible for them.