When eyeglasses were invented : the fifth most important invention

When were eyeglasses invented?

Did you know that eyeglasses are one of the most important inventions in the history of mankind?

They were invented in medieval times and experts even consider them the fifth most important invention. And the truth is that it is no wonder, since they made life easier for many people, although they have nothing to do with the spectacle frames we know today.

The origin of eyeglasses

The origin of eyeglasses dates back to the 13th century, in Italy. The leading theory is that they were invented by monks and scholars to aid in reading, but the foundations of this idea were laid much earlier.

In the 11th century, Alhacen, an Arab scholar and astronomer laid the theoretical foundations of the “reading stone”. This was a quartz crystal hemisphere that acted as a magnifying glass.

In addition, his “Book of Optics”, which suggested that polished lenses could be of great help to the visually impaired, generated great interest among monks, who began to materialize the astronomer's ideas.

So much so that in the 13th century the monks developed a hemispherical lens made of quartz rock crystal, which, when placed on a piece of writing, magnified the letters.

Who invented the first eyeglasses? An invention to improve vision

It is said that the first spectacles were invented in 1286, but it is not known with certainty who the inventor was.

Some attribute their invention to the Franciscan friar Alessandro Della Spina, considering that it was he who created the corrective lenses. In addition, it is mentioned in various writings that he not only manufactured them, but also popularized their use and improved their design by incorporating a frame to the lenses, which made them more stable and functional.

While it is true that the glasses as we know them today were born in Italy, specifically in Murano, it is important to note that there is some controversy about their invention, as there are documents that mention the use of lenses in places like the Roman Empire.

What we have no doubt about is that the invention of glasses was a great advance in many aspects of everyday life, although it is important to note that not everyone had access to them.

Eyeglasses, a luxury item for the upper and academic classes

Although the first glasses were created with the intention of treating problems such as presbyopia or myopia, over time, glasses were not only used to improve vision, but also became a luxury item for the upper and academic classes.

At the same time, it is possible that they were also used by workers of specific guilds, such as craftsmen, accountants or carpenters, among many others.

With the invention of the printing press, the demand for spectacles increased, although in some parts of Europe people avoided wearing them in public, as they denoted a loss of faculties.

Even so, in other places they were consolidated as a symbol of power, status and wealth, even becoming fashion items, as happened in the 19th century with monocles.

Gradually, materials were innovated and frames and lenses were improved to adapt them to different visual needs.

As you can see, when eyeglasses were invented, very few people thought they could have access to them. However, over the centuries, this has changed completely, and nowadays, who doesn't have at least a pair of sunglasses?

When were sunglasses invented?

After talking about eyewear in general, we are now going to focus on when sunglasses were invented.

Today, sunglasses are an essential accessory, both for fashion and to protect our eyes from UV rays. But surprising as it may seem, sunglasses were originally worn neither for eye protection nor for style.

Thus, the first sunglasses with darkened lenses appeared in China in the 12th century, with the purpose of being used by Chinese judges to hide their eyes and expressions during trials, so that no one could suspect their verdict. You didn't expect that, did you?

The oldest sunglasses

Although they also date back to the 12th century, the oldest sunglasses are believed to have been created by the Eskimos of the Inuit peoples, although they have nothing to do with what we understand by sunglasses.

These primitive sunglasses were made from bone, wood or ivory, and had small openings instead of lenses. These horizontal slits limited the amount of light coming in, helping to protect their eyes from sunlight reflecting off the snow, thus preventing blindness and glare.

Thus, these types of goggles are nothing like today's goggles, but they served a similar function in terms of eye protection.

Modern sunglasses

As for modern sunglasses, we can say that their invention dates back to the twentieth century, more specifically in 1929. It was in this year, when the American eyewear manufacturer Sam Foster started producing sunglasses as a fashion and protective accessory.

In this way, sunglasses evolved until they became an accessory used worldwide, not only for protection, but also for style.

What does the future hold? Innovation in sunglasses

The future of sunglasses will be characterized by innovation and advancement through smart lenses with augmented reality and improved protection against ultraviolet rays and blue light.

At the same time, customizable designs created through 3D printing and glasses made from sustainable materials will also stand out, as well as those sunglasses that include special functionalities such as music playback, video recordings or eye health monitoring.

In short, sunglasses in the future will be much more technological, environmentally conscious and, of course, easier to adapt to every style.

Here are some of our favorite sunglasses, such as the recycled acetate Gucci GG1906S 002 ReAce and the Ray Ban Meta sunglasses.

If you want to discover other types of glasses that are also in trend today, take a look at our catalog. We have many brands of sunglasses, so it will be very easy for you to find the one that best suits your personality and your look.