A fascinating history of corrected vision — When were glasses first used?

How long have you been using glasses? One year, two years, ten years. You could be a new user or a tired user of glasses. Have you ever wondered how long glasses have been in use? Who made them? And how it came into such widespread use?

The earliest use was in 1268 by Roger Bacon, the one who made the details of gunpowder making available.

However before that during Greek and Roman times, Emperor Nero used emerald for optical purposes. (Like reading small texts or inscriptions on objects like gold). This was mentioned by Pliny the Elder. Glasses or lenses were not invented around this time. Stones or quartz with optical properties were being used as an aid for reading or seeing minute objects.

In 1268, Roger Bacon commented about glasses and their use. The first known glasses were estimated to be made in 1290, in Pisa, Northern Italy.

Some suggest Salvino D’Armate invented eyeglasses in 1285. He had shared his invention with an Italian monk who circulated the invention. However, there are many sources that suggest that glasses were invented way before that. There were many independent discoveries and inventions around the 12th century. But by 1301, the invention was well known and the commercial guild made regulation on the sale of eyeglasses.

Giordano da Pisa also known as Jordon of Rivalto mentioned in one of his letters, dated 23 Feb 1306, that he met the inventor of glasses and it hadn’t been 20 years that the glasses became famous and were sought out.

These glasses were mostly handheld. The lenses were too bulky and the images were not very clear. Often it gives out rainbows also known as chromatic aberration. Around this time only reading glasses of mostly similar strengths were available. There wasn’t much variation in glasses except for the style of glasses. But they all were handheld glasses.

Wearable Glasses

By 1352 glasses were commonly seen in portraits. Glasses were common in upper echelons. They portrayed themselves wearing glasses. It has mostly become a status symbol.

Around this time wearable glasses started coming into circulation. At first, bone, wood, or metal were used for making frames. Later, flexible materials like wire or leather were used for making eyeglasses, mostly for making wearable eyeglasses.

During the 14th century, the Venetians made convex lenses for farsightedness. In 1451 Germans invented concave lenses for nearsightedness. By this time actual glasses were used to make lenses. Quartz lenses give a murky vision. Concave lenses or convex lenses made out of glass were more clear.

Glasses of varying strength

In 1466, the duke of Milan ordered several eyeglasses of varying strength of lenses. He wanted to wear a different pair of glasses every five years as his eyesight deteriorated. During that time the knowledge of macular degeneration must have been known and also there were enough glasses in circulation made of varying strengths. The duke was benevolent enough to get youngsters far-seeing glasses at affordable prices.

In this medieval era, glasses were becoming common and cheap to manufacture. The widespread circulation was making the glasses not only a tool for vision correction but also for a style statement. The medieval hipsters were already donning the leather strap eyeglasses just for fashion.

There is more depiction from the 15th century. One such example is the depiction of eyeglasses on the altarpiece of the church, Bad Wildungen, Germany.

Convex lenses could help in hyperopia and presbyopia, but the reason was unknown in the 15th century. In 1604, Johannes Kepler published his work on how convex and concave lenses can improve presbyopia and myopia. It was the first correct explanation to date.

Most of the invention on glasses came later in the 18th century. Like the rigid frames came in 1730, double hinges came in 1752 and the bifocal glasses were invented in 1784. Benjamin Franklin invented bifocal glasses for his presbyopic eyes.

In 1825 glasses to correct astigmatism were made. A year later, trifocals came into use. Progressive lenses came as late as 1958. After that many upgrades have been made on glasses to correct your vision and improve your viewing experience. If you need glasses, you can buy glasses online, knowing the vast history behind them.

Were Chinese the first Inventors?

The first inventor of glasses is still unknown. Some claim it was the Chinese. The earliest depiction of eyeglasses in China was around the 15th century. And most of the sources reveal that glasses were imported.

Another claim is that glasses were invented in India as Vyasatirtha, a Hindu philosopher had eyeglasses in his possession in the 1520s. Most of the claims were of the 15th century and only the Italian claim was the earliest, that is in the 12th century.

Fun fact — Sunglasses came way before glasses

In the 12th century, the Chinese made flat smokey quartz to cut glares. These sunglasses look something out of science-fiction (something that cyclops would wear), but these are ancient sunglasses. These glasses do not provide any optical correction or provide protection from UV rays. It could reduce glares from the sun. The judges in the medieval Chinese era would wear these sunglasses to hide their expressions while giving judgements.

Sunglasses and glasses are no longer a tool for status. Every class of society wears glasses. Now you can buy glasses as cheap as possible and designer glasses as trendy and expensive. You can find many cheap glasses online with frames as good as designer glasses. If you want to make an impression, you can surely try wearing glasses.