Brief History

The first optical developments date far back to ancient Egypt. However, the first written documentation of invention and usage of an optical aid tool is estimated for 1000AD. It was called the reading stone. This sphere made of glass, was laid on top of the material that needed to be magnified. Except for reading, stories tell that the Roman emperor used to watch the gladiatorial games using an emerald as a corrective lens.

Later, in the 13th century, an Italian named Salvino D'Armate invented the first wearable eyeglass, which claimed to fix hyperopia. The invention was very successful, and many people tried to claim the invention as theirs.

500 years later, an eyeglass designer named James Aysough, felt that white colored glass created an irritating glare. So he added tinted glass onto his double-hinged spectacles. Although these were in effect the first sunglasses, they were not made to help shield the eyes from the sun, but rather to corrected vision problems. The first pair of sunglasses, which were meant just for protection from the sun, was sold only at 1929.

An interesting design development had to do with the way the lenses themselves were being attached to the eyes. Starting with a simple stone held in one’s hand and developing to a “scissors- like” attachment sitting on ones nose. These scissors style remained popular for its stylish appearance even when ribbons had been developed attaching the lenses to the head, or even later on when the modern style of glasses, held by temples passing over the ears, was developed in 1727 by the British optician Edward Scarlett.

Nowadays, the verity of lenses and frames is broader than ever, and so is their popularity. While contact lenses or laser surgery could fix sight deficiencies, glasses are still chosen by most people, even if only as a fashion accessory.

Trivia

1. Which invention spurred the wide use of reading glasses?
   1. Weaving machines
   2. Guttenberg's printing press
   3. Glass blowing
   4. Dyecasting
2. What music star was known for its round colorful star shaped eyeglasses?
   1. Michel Jackson
   2. Elton john
   3. Madonna
   4. John Lennon
3. High-index and aspheric lenses:
   1. Are scratch-proof
   2. Reduce glare
   3. Thinner than other lenses
   4. Give you X-ray vision
4. Roman Emperor Nero viewed the Gladiator games through lenses. Which gem was used to make these lenses?
   1. Ruby
   2. Emerald
   3. Diamond
   4. Sapphire
5. What comics' super-hero was wearing eyeglasses in order to hide his secret identity?
   1. Batman
   2. Superman
   3. Wonder woman
   4. Both answers b & c are true
6. Anti-reflective lenses do which of the following?
   1. Eliminate reflections so more light enters your eyes
   2. Make your lenses "invisible" so people can see your eyes
   3. Improve night vision
   4. All of the above
7. "No-line bifocals" are called:
   1. Progressive
   2. Profuse
   3. Diffuse
   4. Parsimonious
8. What comedian got his sight fixed in a laser surgery, but keeps wearing his glasses as his symbol?
   1. Drew Carey
   2. Alan Carr
   3. David letterman
   4. Harry hill
9. Where were the first lenses made?
   1. China
   2. Greece
   3. Italy
   4. France
10. Which U.S. President created a major public relations coup for an Ophthalmologist whose waiting room became packed with wanna-be patients as a result?
    1. Andrew Jackson
    2. George Washington
    3. Thomas Jefferson
    4. Samuel Adams

Answers

1. b
2. b
3. c
4. b
5. b
6. d
7. a
8. a
9. c
10. a