What is the history of prescription glasses?

Nowadays, seeing someone wearing glasses is so common that they have become as much a fashion accessory as a medical device for vision correction.

Did you know that back in the day, people looked through pieces of glass to try to see better? And no, I’m not talking about your finely crafted lenses—I’m talking about actual shards of glass like the ones you might find on the street today.

Let’s take a trip back in time and investigate the history of glasses together! We’re a long way from the trendy eyewear of 2020.

Vision altered through glass objects

The invention of glasses is often associated with Italy around the 13^th century, but during my research I discovered that their earliest origins date back to Antiquity, as early as the 1^st century.

In fact, a philosopher noticed that looking at an object through a glass sphere filled with water (probably the ancestor of the fishbowl!) made objects appear larger.

It is even said that during the same period, Emperor Nero watched gladiator fights through an emerald. Well... he mainly did it to show off his wealth and power, but the precious stone also helped correct his myopia and reduce blurriness.

Have you ever heard of the Nimrud Lens? This polished rock crystal disc had many optical properties. Historians are still unsure of its purpose. Was it used as a magnifying glass? Did it focus sunlight to start fires? Or was it simply a decorative object?

Ultimately, the history of glasses truly began in Antiquity. A few optical objects were discovered to improve vision, but no real visual aid yet existed. The concept of two lenses mounted in a frame was still a long way off.

The discovery of the magnifying glass

In the 11^th century, Alhazen, an Arab scholar, wrote about a way to help the eye see better using an optical lens. He described a spherical lens capable of enlarging text. Although it remained only a theory at the time, he had essentially discovered the magnifying glass!

The emergence of the concept of glasses

The story of glasses continued in Italy during the 15^th century, when the concept of lenses mounted in a frame appeared. Italians accidentally discovered the power of myopia correction thanks to concave lenses.

These glasses were known as riveted spectacles, adjustable to the shape of the face and held in place with rivets near the cheekbones. They were known for being extremely heavy.

Source: Acuité

The rounded-bridge spectacles soon followed. They could rest on the bridge of the nose for greater comfort. Their drawback? They had to be held by hand.

Source: Acuité

Manufacturers then invented bonnet spectacles, equipped with a curved arm extending toward the back of the head.

A fashion statement

The nobility began acquiring this new object as a symbol of wealth and prestige (in fact, it was already becoming a fashion accessory).

As a result, glasses became very expensive and the eyewear market started booming across Europe. With the invention of the printing press, glasses became even more widespread.

Different styles emerge

It would be a shame to talk about the history of glasses without mentioning some of the styles that existed throughout the centuries:

• As mentioned earlier, there were riveted spectacles, rounded-bridge spectacles, and bonnet spectacles.
• The pince-nez, which rested on the bridge of the nose and was also known as a monocular eyeglass.
  
  

• The monocle, which corrected only one eye. It stayed in place thanks to the eyebrow ridge (must have been fun to keep it there!).
  
  

• Opera glasses, featuring a frame, two lenses, and a handle to hold them.
  
  

The temples appeared in 1728, allowing glasses to rest on the ears for greater practicality and comfort. They were truly refined at the beginning of the 20^th century.

Plastic: a major revolution in the history of eyewear

The invention of glasses improved the productivity of intellectuals and scientists, helping drive progress and technology.

It was truly during the 20^th century, when plastic arrived in Europe, that glasses became widely accessible to the entire population.