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The History of Eyeglasses

Reading stones, the first known attempt at an implement to aid in visual perception, were known to have been in use around 1000 AD. This was a glass sphere placed on top of the written material (or images) to enlarge what was seen. The first glasses to be worn on the face were invented in Italy around 1284. History suggest a man named Salvino D'Armate was responsible for this renovation. 

A famous Roman tragedy writer, Seneca ( who lived from 4 BC  to 65AD) was reported to have used a glass globe full of water as a magnification glass to read the books of Rome. Monks in the Middle Ages may have also used this method. In the 13th century. Venetians glass blowers utilized reading stones made of solid glass that were put into single-lens, hand held frames made of wood or horn. These were the first known magnifying glasses.

The first actual eyeglasses were made in Italy by monks or craftsmen in Pisa (or possibly Venice) from 1285 to1289. The  lenses were basically two small magnifying glasses, set into metal, bone, or leather, and balanced on the bridge of nose. The first known depiction of eyeglasses in art is from a painting by Tommaso da Modena, dating from 1352. The painting shows monks writiing and reading various texts. One is shown using a magnifying glass, and another has glasses perched on his nose.

Early eyeglasses had convex lenses that could help with farsightedness (or presbyopia). Nicholas of Cusa, a famous philosopher, theologian, jurist, and astronomer (1401 to 1464), is is thought to be the first to discover the use of concave lens for correcting nearsightedness (or myopia). Johannes Kepler published a treatise on optics and astronomy in 1604, the first accepted explanation for why concave  and convex lenses acts as they do to correct near and far sightedness. Benjamin Franklin, famous American inventor and scientist,  invented bifocals in 1784 in order to keep from switching between different pairs of eyeglasses. 

The gradual development of frames was inevitable. The first eyeglasses were designed to be held in front of the eyes or by perching on the nose. These latter were known as the pince-nez variety, from the french for "Pinch-nose." A man named  Girolamo Savonarola suggested that lenses could be held in place by a ribbon, then held down by a hat. It wasn't until 1727 that the British opticician Eward Scarlett developed our modern technique of using temples that lay over the ears. They didn't catch on immediately, though. Many people used lorgnettes and scissor glasses up till the 19th cantury. These were frames attached to a handle.

Many people may see themselves as expressing their personality by the type of glasses/frames they wear. A lot of  celebrities have used glasses to help form part of their publlic identity. The British comedian Eric Sykes wore glasses that had no lenses. They were a hearing aid conducting through the bone. Senator Barry Goldwater kept wearing  horn-rimmed spectacles after getting contact lenses, because the public did not recognize his changed appearance. Anne Kirkbride, a British soap-opera star, had the same problem.The character she played, Deirdre Barlow, on the show Coronation Street, was so recognized for her large frames that the public wanted her to wear them at social gatherings and on international tours,although she had previously worn contacts. Drew Carey wore glasses for the same reason , even though he had corrective laser eye surgery. Famous chef Masaharu Morimoto dons glasses to separate his job as a chef from his stage appearances as Iron Chef Japanese. The Beatle John Lennon represented his round-lens "Windsor" glasses throughout his life, and is well-known for them.

Even with the advent of lighter frames( such as titanium), lighter lenses,  flexible frames, and new optical coatings, eyewear is still vulnerable during heavy physical activities such as sports. Lenses can be smudged or trap vapor when drinking hot beverages, being outside in the rain, or when exposed to drastic temperature variations, like walking into a warmer area when it's cold outside. This can seriously affect your visibility. Scratching, fracturing, or breaking of your lenses requires lengthy and potentially expensive repair, although some more recent plastic lenses are very damage-resistant.

The John Lennon style of glasses are also known as Granny glasses.These are glasses with small lenses that can be rectangular or round, depending on the style. These were popular with counterculture fashion in the 60s, when they were seen on several leaders of the hippie movement at the time. They've been stereotyped as representative of the hippie lifestyle, and are also worn by older individuals.

The shape of thse type of glasses may vary. Many  during the 1960s had rectangular lenses in their glasses and thinner or half-frames. They were poplular among those who only needed them for reading or isolated tasks, rather than wearing them all the time. Another common variation of this style uses round lenses in full or half frames. Round glassses of this type are also known  as "Ben Franklin" glasses. Many paintings of Ben Franklin depict him wearing his own glasses, with their recognizably round, smaller lenses and thin frame. 

Granny glasses can have prescription lenses, though the small lenses make them more appropriate for occasonal use. A lot of people in the 60s wore tinted lenses, rocking them as sunglasses, and the tinting was sometimes done in an unusual color like orange or rose, hence the phrase, "seeing the world through rose-colored glasses."  Another strange fad of the 1960s, glassless glasses, was wearing only the frames, without lenses. People lost Interest in Granny glasses quickly in the 60s, as is common with fads. After a couple of  years of being popular, the style  vanished almost overnight. The image of Granny glasses became so closely associated with the hippie movement  that they are often worn by people adopting the style of that time period.

Eyeglass Discounter Patient Life Experience Wearing Eyeglasses

I've had to wear glasses since I was 15 years old. Before that, my vision just sucked. I remember the first day I put on a pair, and how crystal clear everything was... and how beautiful the stars were. I'd never really seen them before, because they were just smudges to my eyes. Then I saw this beautiful sky full of crystalline points of light, and I was just in awe... it was amazing. I'm nearsighted, which, contrary to some people's interpretation, actually means that you can see things okay up close, but not so well far away. You'd be surprised at how many people I've met who thought it was the other way around, and that it was far-sighted people who couldn't see far away. Nope, sorry, other way around.

Of course, every high school kid's main concern is that glasses are going to make him(or her) look like a nerd, and this turned out to be true in my case, but it was all right, because I was already a nerd. I spent all my time reading and playing with computers... this back in the day of the 486 and Doom II. I have a suspicion that focusing my eyes on nearby objects like computer screens and book pages so much, rather than engaging in sports and activities utilizing longer distance vision, affected my eyes' development. It probably doesn't help that I used to read by moonlight in the back of my parents' car. There's a lot of factors that can go into affecting one's vision. Diet, habits, etc.

What type of glasses you're wearing weighs heavily on your appearance. Nobody wants to look like a complete dweeb (well, maybe some people do, I don't know). I never liked horn-rimmed glasses. You know, those big, clunky tortoise-shell-looking things. Wire rims just look so much more sophisticated. Then again, I suppose it's a matter of individual taste. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. The glasses I have now ain't that great. I got them while incarcerated (but that's another story...), and they're just hideous. It doesn't help that I accidentally sat on them, breaking one of the temples, and had to superglue it back together. Ghetto-fabulous. In case you're wondering, a temple is the part of your eyeglasses that sits over your ear. They're also referred to as "arms," or "legs," informally. I always just called the "the thingies that go over your ear," but let's not get technical. I don't want to confuse anyone.

Another concern is what kind of lenses you want. If you get the cheapest plastic lenses, they 're going to get scratched, and smudge, and cause you no end of frustration. I know, because I have them, and they suck. Man, I wish I could afford new glasses. All in due time. Anyways, you have a selection, and there are various types you can choose from. Optometrists suggest different types of lenses depending on your particular vision problem. For example, polycarbonate lenses are recommended for pursuing an active lifestyle or those playing sports (yeah, that wouldn't be me). Photochramatic lenses turn into shades when you're exposed to light. If you get an anti-reflective treatment  done to your glasses, it reduces the glare caused by excessive light, so your vision won't be affected as much by long-term computer use or night driving. Your eye doctor can recommend the best lenses for you.

I gotta say, I've seen some interesting eyeware in my time. When I was on the streets, one of my punk rocker buddies had frames made entirely of duct tape. They were well-made, too, for what they were. I suppose you could consider it a fashion statement in utility. I mean, it was functional. Frames getting broken is a constant problem, and one of the main reasons people switch to contact lenses. Of course, contacts come with their own problems, as any contact lens user knows.  Glasses are a little easier to keep track of.  Mine are currently broken, but I'll get around to fixing them.... one of these days. I've been using epoxy to fix them, but honestly, it's just time to get some new ones.

It can be frustrating  trying to see clearly through a smudged pair of glasses. Seriously, I mean, I get really angry when I can't get my glasses clean. Clean lenses  make a huge difference in how you see the world. I used to just wipe them on my shirt, but the way you clean your lenses does matter, not only for your vision, but for your glasses, too.

I'm guilty of the number one no-no when it comes cleaning my glasses: trying to wipe away smudges using my shirt . Not only is this an inefficient way to remove dirt, it can damage your lenses, since your shirt has dust and other particles on it. Some fabrics can also damage your lenses. The easiest way to clean your glasses is simpler than you'd think. Run the front and back of the lens under warm water (even cold water works, but not as well). Then, wash the lenses with a mild soap. Some companies make cleaning solutions that aren't quite as harsh, to protect the anti-glare and anti-scratch coatings on some kinds of glasses.

Wipe the soap off in a circular motion (gently!) as you once again rinse the glasses under warm water. Dry them using a soft cloth.  Don't use paper towels, obviously. They're way too abrasive. Tissues are also no good. Special cloths are made for cleaning lenses; you might look into this. Don't be lazy like I am and use your shirt. Take care of your glasses.

For years I went without glasses, when I needed them. To this day I can't see very well at all without them. But it's definitely more important to be able to see than whatever concerns you may have about how you look with them. Right now I'm running around half-blind, and it ain't fun.

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Coach

In 1941, Coach was founded as a family-owned business called the Gail Leather Products in New York City. In 1946, Lillian Cahn and her husband Miles joined the company. Miles noticed that with wear and tear, the leather used to make baseball gloves, became softer and more supple. Miles created a way of processing leather to make it stronger and more flexible.

In 1961, Bonnie Cashin joined Coach to design handbags from 1962 to 1974 and revolutionized the product’s design. Bonnie introduced brighter colors, coin purses and side pockets into the bags. Bonnie also added a silver toggle to her clothes and accessories, which became the Coach trademark.

In 1985, Miles and Lillian decided to sell Coach and dedicate more time into their goat farm and cheese production business. The company was sold to the Sara Lee Corporation for 30 million dollars. Lewis Frankfort took over the company as Cahn’s successor.

In 1996, Coach hired Reed Krakoff, who was responsible for Coach’s success. His design turned the small company that it was, into the worldwide known brand that it is today.

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Ray-Ban

In the 1920’s, many pilots in the US Army Air Service were complaining that the glare from the sun was giving them headaches. As a solution, Bausch & Lomb introduced a new kind of glasses that would protect their eyes from the bright colors of the sky. In 1936, a prototype was made and was known as ‘Anti-Glare’. This prototype had green lenses with plastic frames that cut out the glare without obscuring vision. In the following year, the sunglasses were remodeled with a metal frame and rebranded as the “Ray-Ban Aviator”. Bausch & Lomb patented the aviator on May 7, 1937.

A new version of the aviator called the ‘Outdoorsman’ was designed for enthusiasts that took an interest in hunting, shooting, and fishing. It featured a “sweat bar” at the top that would catch sweat from falling into the eyes. Gradient lenses were introduced in the 1940’s, which had a special coating on the top half of the lens for protection, but an uncoated clear lower lens.

The classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer was introduced in 1952. James Dean was wearing them in 1955’s Rebel Without A Cause.

In the 1980’s, the brand became even more popular showing up in movies such as, ‘The Blues Brothers’, ‘Risky Business’, and ‘Top Gun’.

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Oakley

In 1975, Jim Jannard started Oakley in his garage with an investment of $300. The name Oakley derived from Jannard’s dog, which was an English Setter. Jannard started selling “the Oakley Grip” out of the back of his car at motocross events. His grips used a patented material known as “Unobtanium”, which was unlike any other grips at the time.

In 1980, Jannard introduced a pair of goggles called the O-Frame. With the Oakley logo present, the brand became well known throughout the sports industry.

The company went public in 1995, raising $230 million.

During the rescue of the three miners that were trapped for 10 weeks in a Chilean mine in October 2010, a journalist contacted Oakley about donating sunglasses to the rescue effort,aware that the miners would need eye protection after having spent weeks in the dark. Oakley donated 35 pairs of its Radar sports glasses, fitted with specially selected tints.

In August 2013, Oakley sold its REVO brand to Sequential Brands for $20 million.

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BVLGARI

The company’s Greek founder, Sotirios Voulgaris created the trademark that is usually written BVLGARI which is in the classical Latin alphabet where V = English U.

Sotirios Voulgaris started his career as a jeweler in his home town Paramythia, where his first store can still be seen. In 1881 he moved to Rome, then started his company and opened his second shop in via Sistina. With the help of his two sons, Costantino and Giorgio, they replaced the second shop with the current flagship store in via dei Condotti in 1905.

During the second world war, costantino bulgari and his wife laura concealed three jewish women in their own home in rome. The bulgaris were ouraged due to the raid of the roman ghetto in October 1943. They were awarded the title of righteous among the nations at yad vashem Jerusalem.

Giorgio’s son Gianni took over the company as co-CEO with his cousin Marina. In the early 1970’s they began opening shops in Geneva, monte carlo, paris, and new york. Gianni established a new watch business and put more emphasis on designing the products. In 1987, Gianni sold his one-third stake in the company to his brothers paolo and Nicola.

Bvlgari watch production was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Neuchatel.

Bulgari donated 13 million Euros to Save The Children between 2009 and 2011.

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