Glasses were invented in Europe in the second half of the 13th century. Scientists still cannot decide who exactly created the prototype. It is presumed that glasses were invented in Italy (in Florence, Venice or Pisa) around 1280. Legend has it that local glassblowers noticed that a drop of glass, which stayed on a table, later solidified as flat on one side and convex on the other and could be used to magnify objects. Salvino D’Armate is often credited with inventing the first glasses, however, there is not much evidence other than the inscription on his grave “Here lies the inventor of eyeglasses, may God forgive his sins.”
To prevent glass from crumbling, the lenses of the first glasses were surrounded by special rims made of wood and later horn. The lenses were connected by a folding bridge and resembled scissors or an inverted letter V in shape. This design made it possible to position glasses on the nose. There were also monocles — a type of lens designed for only one eye. The first lenses were convex and were used to correct farsightedness.
Glasses came to the East from Europe a little later. There, the frame was made of tortoiseshell, while rock crystal, quartz, amethyst, and topaz were used for the lenses. Such glasses emphasized the elevated social status of the owner rather than corrected visual impairment.
In the 16th century, glasses with concave lenses were created for treating nearsightedness. Spanish craftsmen made the first myopia glasses with temples made of silk ribbons that had loops for the ears. The Chinese modified the design and, instead of using loops, attached metal temples to the ribbons.
At first, doctors were skeptical about glasses. Some even considered them harmful to the eyes. So, it was merchants who helped customers choose the right pair of glasses. Later, thanks to the works of Kepler, Helmholtz, Jung, and other scientists, the reason for optical defects in the eyes was determined, and glasses became scientifically approved for vision correction.
Glasses came to Russia in the early 17th century. They were brought from Holland and Germany. On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet glasses were made at the Vitebsk Optical Factory, which was founded in 1892 and produced magnifying glasses, as well as physical, surgical, and optical instruments. At the beginning of the war, the factory was evacuated to the village of Suksun in the Perm region, where the production of goggles for pilots and tank crews was launched.
To prevent glass from crumbling, the lenses of the first glasses were surrounded by special rims made of wood and later horn. The lenses were connected by a folding bridge and resembled scissors or an inverted letter V in shape. This design made it possible to position glasses on the nose. There were also monocles — a type of lens designed for only one eye. The first lenses were convex and were used to correct farsightedness.
Glasses came to the East from Europe a little later. There, the frame was made of tortoiseshell, while rock crystal, quartz, amethyst, and topaz were used for the lenses. Such glasses emphasized the elevated social status of the owner rather than corrected visual impairment.
In the 16th century, glasses with concave lenses were created for treating nearsightedness. Spanish craftsmen made the first myopia glasses with temples made of silk ribbons that had loops for the ears. The Chinese modified the design and, instead of using loops, attached metal temples to the ribbons.
At first, doctors were skeptical about glasses. Some even considered them harmful to the eyes. So, it was merchants who helped customers choose the right pair of glasses. Later, thanks to the works of Kepler, Helmholtz, Jung, and other scientists, the reason for optical defects in the eyes was determined, and glasses became scientifically approved for vision correction.
Glasses came to Russia in the early 17th century. They were brought from Holland and Germany. On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet glasses were made at the Vitebsk Optical Factory, which was founded in 1892 and produced magnifying glasses, as well as physical, surgical, and optical instruments. At the beginning of the war, the factory was evacuated to the village of Suksun in the Perm region, where the production of goggles for pilots and tank crews was launched.
