While sunglasses are commonplace today, the history of sunglasses creation and function is quite fascinating. Here are 10 interesting facts about the history of sunglasses.
- The concept of sunglasses first emerged from the Inuit over 2000 years ago when they cut slits in walrus ivory. This was done to prevent a common condition called snow blindness or UV keratitis. [1]
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In the 12th century, the Chinese made sunglasses lenses out of flat panes of smoky quartz. [2]
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One of the first uses of sunglasses was for Chinese judges to hide eye expression in court. [3]
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The concept of tinted spectacle lenses was first conceived in 1752 by an English optician named James Ayscough. [4]
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In 1929, Sam Foster became the first major sunglasses retailer in the United States. [5]
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Polarized sunglasses were invented in 1936. Before that sunglasses only darkened one's vision, but did not reduce glare. [6]
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The famous Ray Ban Aviators were invented to protect US military pilots from harsh UV light and glare at high altitudes. [7]
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In the early to mid 1900s, sunglasses were commonly referred to as "sun cheaters" in the United States. [8]
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Photochromic or transition lenses were invented in 1964 by William Armistead and Stanley Stookey. [9]
- Elton John has the largest collection of sunglasses in the world with over 250,000 pairs. [10]
Written by Kaleb Abbott, O.D., M.S.
Sources:
- https://www.sunglassmuseum.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-sunglasses
- https://www.sunglassmuseum.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-sunglasses
- https://web.archive.org/web/20070703224202/http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/sunglasses.htm
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/41506455?seq=1
- https://www.articlesurfing.com/arts_and_crafts/the_history_of_sunglasses.html
- http://www.glasseshistory.com/glasses-history/history-of-sunglasses/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/magazine/who-made-those-aviator-sunglasses.html
- https://archive.org/details/newpartridgedict00tomd
- https://science.sciencemag.org/content/144/3615/150
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2929539/When-250-000-just-aren-t-Elton-John-goes-shopping-glasses-LA-despite-previously-admitting-owns-quarter-MILLION-pairs.html