The Invention of Glasses?

Question

who invinted glasses? I know that Iben Sina (An Arab scientist started working on lenses but I need to know who wokred further on).

Answer 1

The first recorded use of a corrective lens was by the emperor Nero, who was known to watch the gladiatorial games using an emerald[1].

Glasses first began to appear in common use in northern Italy late in the 13th century; most likely in the late 1280s. It is not clear when the technology was invented. It has been said that Marco Polo reported seeing many pairs of glasses in China as early as 1275[citation needed]. In 1676, Franciscus Redi, a professor of medicine at the University of Pisa, wrote that he possessed a 1289 manuscript whose author complains that he would be unable to read or write were it not for the recent invention of glasses, and a record of a sermon given in 1305, in which the speaker, a Dominican monk named Fra Giordano da Rivalto, remarked that glasses had been invented less than twenty years previously, and that he had met the inventor. Based on this evidence, Redi credited another Dominican monk, Fra Alessandro da Spina of Pisa, with the re-invention of glasses after their original inventor kept them a secret, a claim contained in da Spina's obituary record.

Answer 2

No one knows when or where people first wore glasses. Europeans probably began wearing them in the 1200s. Marco Polo, an Italian trader and traveler, reported that he saw people wearing glasses in China about 1275.

The demand for glasses increased after printed books started to become available in the late 1400s. During the 1500s, people also began using glasses for clearer distance vision. In 1784, the American scientist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, invented bifocals. Bifocals have two-part lenses -- one for reading and one for distance vision.

The Roman emperor Nero watched gladiatorial games through an emerald, though he did this more to shade his eyes from the sun than to improve his eyesight. Nero also ate food coated with gold leaf and was well known for his outrageous and extravagant behavior.

Tibetans wore eyeshades made from woven yak hairs. Ancient Chinese judges wore tinted glasses so no one could see their eyes and guess what they were thinking. But again, these glasses were not the sort that helped to improve eyesight.

Answer 3

The first recorded use of a corrective lens was by the emperor Nero, who was known to watch the gladiatorial games using an emerald.

Glasses first began to appear in common use in northern Italy late in the 13th century; most likely in the late 1280s. It is not clear when the technology was invented. It has been said that Marco Polo reported seeing many pairs of glasses in China as early as 1275[citation needed]. In 1676, Franciscus Redi, a professor of medicine at the University of Pisa, wrote that he possessed a 1289 manuscript whose author complains that he would be unable to read or write were it not for the recent invention of glasses, and a record of a sermon given in 1305, in which the speaker, a Dominican monk named Fra Giordano da Rivalto, remarked that glasses had been invented less than twenty years previously, and that he had met the inventor. Based on this evidence, Redi credited another Dominican monk, Fra Alessandro da Spina of Pisa, with the re-invention of glasses after their original inventor kept them a secret, a claim contained in da Spina's obituary record.

In 1738, a Florentine historian named Domenico Manni reported that a tombstone in Florence credited one Salvino d'Armato (died 1317) with the invention of glasses. Other stories, possibly legendary, credit Roger Bacon with the invention. Bacon's published writings describe the magnifying glass (which he did not invent), but make no mention of glasses. His treatise De iride ("On the Rainbow"), which was written while he was a student of Robert Grosseteste, no later than 1235, mentions using optics to "read the smallest letters at incredible distances".

In the early 20th century, Moritz von Rohr at Zeiss (with the assistance of H. Boegehold and A. Sonnefeld[1]), developed the Zeiss Punktal® spherical point-focus lenses that dominated the eyeglass lens field for many years.

Answer 4

Eye Glasses were invented in Italy around 1284.
Around 1000AD, the first vision aid was invented (inventor unknown) called a reading stone, which was a glass sphere that was laid on top of the material to be read that to magnified the letters...

Answer 5

The first recorded use of a corrective lens was by the emperor Nero, who was known to watch the gladiatorial games using an emerald. Glasses first began to appear in common use in northern Italy late in the 13th century; most likely in the late 1280s.

Answer 6

Ben Franklin invented bifocals.

Answer 7

Oh wait - Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals...

Answer 8

The first recorded use of a corrective lens was by the emperor Nero, who was known to watch the gladiatorial games using an emerald

Glasses first began to appear in common use in northern Italy late in the 13th century; most likely in the late 1280s. It is not clear when the technology was invented. It has been said that Marco Polo reported seeing many pairs of glasses in China as early as 1275
In 1676, Franciscus Redi, a professor of medicine at the University of Pisa, wrote that he possessed a 1289 manuscript whose author complains that he would be unable to read or write were it not for the recent invention of glasses, and a record of a sermon given in 1305, in which the speaker, a Dominican monk named Fra Giordano da Rivalto, remarked that glasses had been invented less than twenty years previously, and that he had met the inventor. Based on this evidence, Redi credited another Dominican monk, Fra Alessandro da Spina of Pisa, with the re-invention of glasses after their original inventor kept them a secret, a claim contained in da Spina's obituary record.
In 1738, a Florentine historian named Domenico Manni reported that a tombstone in Florence credited one Salvino d'Armato (died 1317) with the invention of glasses. Other stories, possibly legendary, credit Roger Bacon with the invention. Bacon's published writings describe the magnifying glass (which he did not invent), but make no mention of glasses. His treatise De iride ("On the Rainbow"), which was written while he was a student of Robert Grosseteste, no later than 1235, mentions using optics to "read the smallest letters at incredible distances".

These early spectacles had convex lenses that could correct the presbyopia (farsightedness) that commonly develops as a symptom of aging. Nicholas of Cusa is believed to have discovered the benefits of concave lens in the treatment of myopia (nearsightedness). However, it was not until 1604 that Johannes Kepler published in his treatise on optics and astronomy, the first correct explanation as to why convex and concave lenses could correct presbyopia and myopia.


A portrait of Francisco de Quevedo y VillegasThe American scientist Benjamin Franklin, who suffered from both myopia and presbyopia, invented bifocals in 1784 to avoid having to regularly switch between two pairs of glasses. The first lenses for correcting astigmatism were constructed by the British astronomer George Airy in 1827.

Over time, the construction of spectacle frames also evolved. Early eyepieces were designed to be either held in place by hand or by exerting pressure on the nose (pince-nez). Girolamo Savonarola suggested that eyepieces could be held in place by a ribbon passed over the wearer's head, this in turn secured by the weight of a hat. The modern style of glasses, held by temples passing over the ears, was developed in 1727 by the British optician Edward Scarlett. These designs were not immediately successful, however, and various styles with attached handles such as scissors glasses and lorgnettes remained fashionable throughout the 18th and into the early 19th century.

In the early 20th century, Moritz von Rohr at Zeiss (with the assistance of H. Boegehold and A. Sonnefeld developed the Zeiss Punktal® spherical point-focus lenses that dominated the eyeglass lens field for many years.

Despite the increasing popularity of contact lenses and laser corrective eye surgery, glasses remain very common and their technology has not stood still. For instance, it is now possible to purchase frames made of special memory metal alloys that return to their correct shape after being bent. Other frames have spring-loaded hinges. Either of these designs offers dramatically better ability to withstand the stresses of daily wear and the occasional accident. Modern frames are also often made from strong, light-weight materials such as titanium alloys, which were not available in earlier times.

Answer 9

ben franklin invented bifocals

Answer 10

nobody knows who invented eyeglasses.