In this age of technology, everyone has to use computers, laptops, and especially smartphones. Most people use these devices to earn money for their livelihood. On one side, these devices are a source of communication for people. On the other side, they affect eyesight if there is no care. Users are only an option when using glasses. According to reports and surveys, almost 75% of people use glasses because of eyesight issues, and the rest use sunglasses. It significantly shows the necessity of glasses. Another thing to note is that a few people have shown interest in eyewear history. This article is for those who want to educate themselves on the history of glasses.
A little about the eyewear and types
There are different glasses with different uses. Some people use glasses for vision impairment, while others use them to protect their eyes from any issue. People use goggles and sunglasses for fashion and sometimes to protect their eyes from severe sunlight. If we talk about the frames of these glasses, there are usually five types of frames used in eyeglasses: full frame, semi-rimless frames, rimless frames, wire, and low-bridge. Different structures provide users with a unique feeling and look. There are a few types of lenses. This article will briefly describe the history of eyewear.
History of eyewear
The initial inventor of the glasses is still unknown. The first eyewear record in history was in the 13th century. With the year and the inventor after the 13th century, the form of all spectacles came into existence. But the name of the first glass inventor is still a riddle in history.
The invention of glasses in a record
Various estimates were floating regarding the invention of glasses. Most academics agree it was in the 13th century. The spectacles we know today didn’t take shape, though, until the 18th century.
Until then, older glasses did not fit the face and had to be held in place for use. However, around this time, temples and a nose bridge were used to secure the eyeglasses on the front and prevent them from falling off. Better materials, well-designed temples, and more comfortable nose cushions were among the subsequent advancements.
History of bifocal lenses
Benjamin Franklin invented bifocal lenses in 1784. He made them because he became weary of switching between far- and near-vision glasses. He combined two lenses by cutting them into segments, then integrated them into one frame with a short switch between the top and bottom lenses. By joining the top and lower portions, French ophthalmologist Louis de Wecker improved the original design in the 19th century. And Peter Williams, who gets the credit for developing trifocal lenses, is also famous for coining the word “bifocals,” although Benjamin Franklin was the inventor, according to Williams.
History of progressive lenses
In 1907, it granted the first patent for a PAL to Englishman Owen Aves. However, he never intended to put it into practice. Duke-Elder created the first progressive lens relying on spherical surfaces in 1922, and it was commercially accessible. However, Bernard Maitenaz of France received a patent for Varilux and Carl Zeiss in 1953, the first advance with a contemporary design. Since then, manufacturers like Carl Zeiss AG have helped develop the progressive lens to enhance usability and distortion-free vision.
Since progressive lenses give their wearer the capacity to see in all three visual ranges—distance, intermediate, and close-up—they represent a significant advance in lens technology. Provided they are in the middle range, PCs, laptops, and other digital gadgets can particularly benefit from this.
History of the monocle eye ring
By the 1800s, wearing glasses as fashion accessories had become increasingly common, and the first monocle, the eye ring, was created in England. Throughout the whole 1800s, they were popular among the higher classes. In 1825, a British astronomer named George Airy finally invented the first lens that could cure astigmatism. Three years later, John McAllister imported cylindrical lenses to construct astigmatism-correcting spectacles, becoming the first to market these lenses in the US. Between the 1820s and 1830s, nearly 300 new optical stores opened in the United States because of these advancements.
Glasses in present
Eyeglasses have traveled a long way through history to get to where they are now. Besides improving vision, they are now style and fashion icons. These days, eyeglasses, particularly bifocals and progressive lenses, are widely available and come in various hues, fashions, forms, and sizes as they continue to develop in line with emerging technology and future demands, their utility, and their longevity.
Final thoughts
The history of glasses after 12th century is glooming like the sun, but the first inventor of the glasses still needs to be made available. Initially, people held the lenses to read written content on the stones. After years, the invention of the frames and eye rings took place. With time, the creation of different lenses kept going on. In the initial days, the usage of glasses was to clear the visual but at the end of the 19th century, they became a part of fashion and fantasy.
