The History of Glasses: Overview
Before eyeglasses were invented in the late 13th century, several other devices were used to help people see better. These early vision aids date back to ancient Rome, when philosopher Seneca the Younger used a glass filled with water to magnify words while he read.
In the ninth century, Abbas Ibn Firnas made “reading stones” by polishing and shaping glass into corrective lenses.
Why Were Glasses Invented?
Glasses were invented to help people see more clearly. Monks and scholars were among the first people to wear spectacles because of the work they did reading and writing manuscripts.
Based on sermon records, it’s believed that glasses were invented in the 1280s. But the first artistic depiction of eyeglasses did not arrive until 1352, in a portrait of Cardinal Hugh of Provence by Tommaso da Modena. It’s just one in a series of 40 frescoes that demonstrate the intellectual rigor required of Dominican scholars.
Who Invented Eyeglasses?
Eyeglasses were likely invented by an Italian monk in the late 13th century. But because he wanted to keep his idea secret, his name has been omitted from historical records. Instead, several accounts give credit to friar Alessandro della Spina of Pisa for copying and sharing the new technology with everyone.
Two other key figures may have played a role in the invention of eyeglasses:
- Ibn Al-Haytham – This Egyptian scientist, mathematician, and all-around genius finished writing The Book of Optics around the year 1021 A.D. He observed how the eyes work together to see images, and his ideas served as the foundation for the science of optics. Al-Haytham believed that lenses could be used to correct some vision issues, though he does not seem to have developed any of his own prototypes.
- Roger Bacon – This English Franciscan friar developed the first magnifying glass for use in reading and scientific work. He studied the works of Al-Haytham and wrote Opus Majus in the 1260s about the science of how glass lenses can improve vision.
Where Were Glasses Invented?
Eyeglasses were invented by a monk in Pisa, Italy, in the 1280s.
The Venice glassblower’s guild moved glass production to the island of Murano at the end of the 13th century. They first allowed glass to be used for spectacle lenses in 1301. Lenses had previously been made with quartz crystal. Murano was the only place at the time that could manufacture the soft glass needed to make eyeglass lenses.
Some historians say glasses were invented in China as well as Italy. Others believe early sunglasses — not reading glasses — were created in China in the 12th century. Chinese judges wore lenses made of a smoky color of quartz so no one could see their eyes and how they reacted to witnesses in court.
How Were Glasses Invented?
Before glasses were invented, scientists and scholars worked to determine how the eyes see. They found that as light enters the eye, the light rays are bent (refracted) as they pass through the eyeball to focus directly onto the retina at the back of the eye.
This knowledge led to the development of very basic vision exams in 13th-century Italy. Italian glassblowers then made eyeglass lenses in different thicknesses and shapes to correct some of the following vision issues:
- Nearsightedness (myopia) – Concave lenses were thinnest in the center and thick around the edges, causing light rays entering the eye to land further back and focus directly on the retina rather than in front of it.
- Farsightedness (hyperopia) – Convex lenses functioned like a magnifying glass. These lenses were thickest in the middle and thinner around the edges. This causes light rays entering the eye to land further forward and focus directly on the retina instead of behind it.
First Pair of Glasses
The first pair of glasses was made in Pisa, Italy, in the late 1200s. These early spectacles likely had two convex lenses in frames made from leather, bone, or metal. They probably connected at the top with rivets so they could rest on the nose or be held in front of the eyes.
Most eyeglasses were produced in Italy during the 14th century. They were primarily made for and worn by monks and scholars, but wealthy people also began using specs during this time.
Over the next two centuries, two historical events created a demand for glasses among the general public:
- Invention of the printing press – Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440, which meant books and other written works were much more widely available. This made reading — and literacy — possible and important for the masses and led to a greater need for glasses. This new demand for specs resulted in the first mass production of inexpensive eyeglasses.
- Debut of the first newspaper – The London Gazette was launched in 1665, leading to more readers and renewed demand from the public for eyeglasses.
The Evolution of Glasses
Eyeglasses have come a long way since the 13th century. Here are some key moments in the history of glasses:
- Temples are added to frames – In the 1600s, Spanish craftsmen attached silk and string to eyeglass frames. The strings were hooked over the wearer’s ears to keep the glasses from falling off.
- Modern frames are invented in 1727 – British optician Edward Scarlett created the basic frame design that is still used today.
- Benjamin Franklin invents bifocals in 1784 – Franklin cut two different lenses in half and put them together so wearers could see clearly close up and at a distance with a single lens.
- Glasses to correct astigmatism are introduced – Around 1827, English astronomer and mathematician Sir George Biddell Airy invented lenses to correct astigmatism.
- Plastic is first used to make lenses – CR-39 plastic lenses were developed in the 1940s and started mass production around the same time.
- Progressive lenses are invented – French optical engineer Bernard Maitenaz invented the progressive lens in 1959. It corrects vision at multiple distances without visible lines on the lenses.
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