Black flies (Simulium vittatum) is the actual name of the species.

Also, not new - here’s a brochure from 2014 about them.

They don’t go for your eyes per se, they swarm the highest part of your body and eat flesh where they can get in. If you put something dark on a stick and hold it a couple of feet above your head, they will swarm that and make it less unbearable for you. Also use citronella soap and they won’t bother you as much. That said, my mother almost passed out from blood loss when treking through norther Ontario in the 60’s because of these fuckers. She thought she had some sunburn on the back of her neck, so didn’t touch it. When she started feeling woozy, someone noticed her back was drenched in blood. She felt the back of her neck to discover blood, chunks of flesh and oodles of black flies.