{"id":1244,"date":"2022-12-09T13:58:39","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T18:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.warbyparker.com\/learn\/?p=1244"},"modified":"2026-04-02T03:12:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T07:12:30","slug":"when-were-glasses-invented","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/when-were-glasses-invented","title":{"rendered":"When Were Glasses Invented?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to the International Museum of Surgical Science, the exact date of the invention of glasses isn\u2019t known, but they appear to have originated in the 13th century (the 1200s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With prescription glasses<\/a> so readily available to us now, it\u2019s hard to imagine the elaborate journey eyeglasses have taken to become what they are today. Let\u2019s take a closer look at the invention of glasses and how they\u2019ve changed over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The History of Glasses: The Who, Where, and When<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Who Invented Glasses?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most sources agree that it\u2019s unclear whom to credit for the invention of glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Records do tell us that Emperor Nero of Rome watched the gladiatorial games through polished emeralds to see the events more clearly (although he was probably just flaunting his status). And later, Abbas Ibn Firnas finished sand into glass that was then polished and shaped into rounded \u201creading stones\u201d<\/a> used for viewing text. But the creator of eyeglasses as we recognize them today is unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where Were Eyeglasses First Invented?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eyeglasses seem to have surfaced simultaneously in Europe and China, although many sources believe glasses to have originated in Italy, where glassblowing was a rising craft among the Venetians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Were Eyeglasses Invented?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although we can\u2019t pinpoint exactly how long glasses have been around, a record of a sermon given by the Italian friar Giordano in 1287 referenced him having met the inventor of spectacles. This is why many people place its invention in Italy around this time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Evolution of Eyeglasses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, we\u2019ve come a long way from watching gladiators through polished gems and using handheld glass stones to magnify writing. Check out some of the milestones that followed, moving eyeglasses along their path to our (far more comfortable and effective) modern-day glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Earliest Glasses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Early spectacles in the 13th century featured rudimentary lenses framed together in wood\u2014a design that was quite difficult to balance on the nose. Instead, the wearer would typically need to hold the spectacles up to their eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When glasses were first invented, they used convex lenses that only corrected for presbyopia<\/a> (difficulty seeing clearly up close due to aging). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introducing the Pince-Nez<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Around the 14th century, the pince-nez emerged. They allowed wearers to balance lenses on the nose hands-free, but that convenience came at a cost: comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name \u201cpince-nez\u201d comes from the French words \u201cpincer,\u201d which means \u201cpinch,\u201d and \u201cnez,\u201d meaning \u201cnose.\u201d The pince-nez clamped on the nose using the tension of a spring to hold them in place. (What a pain\u2014literally!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pince-nez did make a comeback centuries later, though. The style experienced a revival in the 1800s<\/a> and was made popular by many iconic figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Printing Press Brings a Higher Demand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The invention of the printing press in the 1430s increased access to printed materials. This, of course, meant a greater need for vision correction. In the 1500s, glasses (albeit poorly made versions) were being produced in high quantities and sold by street vendors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lenses were recommended based solely on the wearer\u2019s age. Older people had difficulty seeing things up close, so young people must all be nearsighted, right? (Of course not\u2014we know better now!) The wearer would try on a few different pairs of glasses until they found one that fit best and\u2014just maybe\u2014improved their vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Use of Concave Lenses Is Understood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1604, Johannes Kepler was credited<\/a> with the first accurate explanation of how concave lenses could correct myopia<\/a> (nearsightedness) compared to the use of convex lenses for farsightedness<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the 1600s, things improved\u2026somewhat<\/em>. Trial lenses in a leather strap could be fastened around the head, giving a bit more insight into the wearer\u2019s vision needs. Plus, now different lens types<\/a> could correct more vision problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temples Are Invented<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The invention of temples (some might call these glasses parts<\/a> the \u201carms\u201d on frames) in 1727 was a game changer for the evolution of eyeglasses. In 1750, the first prototype for modern glasses made its debut. The temples of the glasses were so named because they were short and clamped onto the wearer\u2019s temples\u2014they didn\u2019t initially rest over the ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Fast-forward\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Fast-forward to now\u2026<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t

Today, you can shop any glasses style from the comfort of your home.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tShop All Glasses <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
\n\n\n\n

The Invention of Bifocals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tired of switching between different pairs of glasses for near and far vision correction, Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals<\/a> in 1784. The bifocals divided the lenses into two viewing zones\u2014one zone for distant vision and the other for near vision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Astigmatism Correction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1801, Thomas Young was the first person to spot the uneven curvature of a cornea, known as astigmatism<\/a>. He actually diagnosed this condition in himself, and later, in 1827, he invented cylindrical lenses to correct his vision<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinner Frames and Over-the-Ear Temples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Steel wire could be used for thinner-rimmed metal frames<\/a> after 1837. This thinner steel also led to straight temples that rested comfortably over the ears (finally).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Style in the 20th Century and Beyond<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The 1900s propelled glasses forward in style and fashion. From the large tortoiseshell<\/a> frames of the 1920s to cat-eye glasses<\/a> of the \u201840s, plastic frames surging in popularity in the \u201870s<\/a> and \u201880s<\/a>, and everything in between and beyond\u2014glasses have been through many aesthetic changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we have so many different styles of glasses<\/a> to choose from that we can express our individuality with our favorite frames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progressive Lenses Make Their Debut<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Progressive lenses<\/a> were first introduced in 1959<\/a>. Progressives eliminated the visible lines delineating the different zones of multifocal lenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Future of Eyeglasses Looks Bright<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Looking back to when glasses were first invented and how they\u2019ve evolved over the centuries, it certainly makes you wonder how eyeglasses will continue to change in the years to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been a good 800 plus years since the invention of glasses, and they started out as handheld lenses framed in wood. What will glasses look like in another 800 years?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional source:
The Science of Sight and the Ophthalmic Art<\/em>. <\/em>The International Museum of Surgical Science, Chicago.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to the International Museum of Surgical Science, the exact date of the invention of glasses isn\u2019t known, but they appear to have originated in the 13th century (the 1200s). With prescription glasses so readily available to us now, it\u2019s hard to imagine the elaborate journey eyeglasses have taken to become what they are today. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":1245,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eyewear","category-style"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhen Were Glasses Invented? | Warby Parker<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you ever wondered when glasses were invented? 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