The Evolution of the Spectacle

Spectacles are one of the world’s greatest inventions. They enable people with a range of eye conditions the ability to see the world more clearly. Prescription glasses boost people’s quality of life and allow people to read and enjoy hobbies that require good vision.

The Invention of Glasses

The development of glasses has been a long journey, with many milestones along the way. The first wearable glasses are thought to have been invented in Italy in the 13th century. They consisted of glass-blown lenses held together in a wooden or leather frame structure that was perched on the nose or held in front of the eyes.

Early frame designs were made from animal horns. There were numerous materials tried and tested before we arrived at today’s modern frame materials.

During the Renaissance period, the popularity of glasses grew as technology advanced. Glasses were mostly available to richer people and wearing glasses was regarded as a symbol of intelligence and wealth.

Lenses were blown to different levels of thickness to provide support to different types of vision problems, based on a very basic type of eyesight test.

In the 1700s the design was modified to provide a hands-free frame that sat across the temple and ears.

Benjamin Franklin invented the bifocal lens. This allowed people with near and far-sighted affectation to have one pair of glasses instead of switching between two pairs. The design first encompassed two different lenses cut in half before the modern lens design was introduced.

Style and Frame Choice Developments

With the advances in lens technology, during the 1800s and 1900s, a greater focus on the aesthetics of glasses emerged. People wanted to buy glasses that not only supported their eyesight but also projected their style and image. Designers started to experiment with different shapes, materials, and colours.

Consideration was given to choosing a style of glasses that suited someone’s face shape or fashion taste. The development of strong plastics made it very easy to manufacture frames of all different thicknesses and shapes. 

How Sunglasses Evolved

In the 20th century, sunglasses were developed as people understood more about how the sun damages the eyes and how tinted lenses were able to support vision in sunlight.

A form of sunglasses had been invented in China in the 12^th century but rather than being developed to protect the eyes. They were designed to hide a court judge’s eyes from view so that people could not see their expression.

The Evolution of Glasses Frames

The 1900s saw a developmental phase where new materials were tested. Plastic and metal were getting lighter and more stylish. Glasses went from being a necessity to help you see to being a piece of fashion. Both Europe and the United States saw this development occur around the same time. Designers began to emerge that were not only improving the look but comfort of frames too.

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