13 Fun Facts About Glasses

Thanks to the impressive collection of Top Frames at Pair, you already know that wearing glasses can be personalized, stylish, and fun.

That said, the next time you’re trying to convince your bestie to ditch their contact lenses and explore the world of customizable frames, whip out one of these fun facts about glasses and watch their mind be blown.

From their Italian origins to their rise among celebrities and cinematic fame, glasses are much more interesting than you might think. That’s why, in this article, we’re sharing 13 fun facts about glasses.

What Are Some Fun Facts About Glasses?

We won’t keep you waiting — here are the most interesting, surprising, and downright amazing fun facts about the history of glasses.

1. The First Spectacles Were Made in Italy

Italy is known for many famous inventions. From the piano to the jacuzzi, there’s no shortage of iconic Italian products. But did you know we also have Italy to thank for glasses?

It’s widely accepted among historians that the first pair of spectacles was made by Italian monks in the 13th century. This pair of glasses was most likely made in central Italy, either in Pisa (home of the iconic Leaning Tower) or Florence.

This first attempt at corrective lenses was created using two reading stones joined by a hinge. A reading stone is what we now would consider a magnifying glass. This early form of glasses also rested on the bridge of the nose.

2. The First Eyeglass Frames Were Made in Spain

Although Italy was home to the first spectacles, the first eyeglass frames weren’t developed until roughly 300 years later, in Spain in the 1600s. Spanish craftsmen used silk ribbons or string to attach the frames to the wearer, looping the ribbon over their ears.

Spanish and Italian missionaries brought this prototype to China. Once there, they added small metal weights to the ends of the strings to keep the frames on the user’s face.

3. Modern Glasses Were Invented in England

By now, you might be wondering where glasses as we know them today come from. The answer: the British optician Edward Scarlett.

Scarlett was the first to create a frame that could be worn over the ears and nose. This early prototype featured a heavy wooden, lead, or copper frame. Later on, lighter materials like leather, bone, and horn were used.

4. Benjamin Franklin Invented Bifocals

Speaking of important inventions, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, created the first bifocal lenses.

Although you might think of Benjamin Franklin as the guy who invented the lightning rod, he also made important contributions to the world of eyewear. In 1784, Benjamin Franklin patented the bifocal lens technology.

His lens contained two parts: a top half for viewing objects at a distance and a bottom half for close reading. For the next 175 years, no changes were made to the bifocal lens, and 78 million Americans still wear them.

5. “Glasses” Isn’t Technically the Correct Term

Although we still call them glasses, that’s not technically the correct term anymore. That’s because most modern glasses don’t actually feature a glass lens that corrects vision. Instead, most glasses today are made from a type of resin that’s far more durable and scratch-resistant.

At Pair, for example, our standard lenses are crafted from high-quality polycarbonate and feature scratch-resistant and anti-reflective coatings. That said, we offer a variety of lens materials to suit your exact lifestyle and budget.

6. Nearly Half the World’s Population Wears Glasses

If you’ve ever worried about standing out while wearing glasses, know you’re not alone.

Over four billion people wear glasses worldwide, which is nearly half of the overall population. In America alone, over half of women and approximately 42% of American men wear glasses.

Long story short, glasses will never be out of style!

7. Elton John Owns Thousands of Frames

Elton John is undoubtedly one of the most iconic glasses wearers. However, when he sat down with Vogue in 2022 to discuss his classic look, he revealed that he doesn’t actually need prescription glasses anymore — he got lens implants in 2002.

When he first came to the U.S. in the 1970s, John bought custom glasses from a shop in L.A. Since then — and even after his lens implants — he’s been collecting frames. Today, he claims to own 250,000 pairs!

8. Ray-Ban Didn’t Invent the Aviator

As much as Ray-Ban might like to claim the mantle of “Aviator Inventor,” that particular title actually goes to two different companies: American Optical and Bausch & Lomb.

American Optical made the first pair of aviator sunglasses at the request of the U.S. military in 1935 when the U.S. Army Air Corps first wore them. Since then, they’ve designed sunglasses for multiple U.S. presidents and NASA space crews.

The first commercial aviators sold to civilians were made by Bausch & Lomb in 1939. They earned their iconic status when Gen. Douglas MacArthur wore them as he landed on the beaches of the Philippines in WWII.

Those images would define the war and are thought to have inspired military looks in several Hollywood films, including Marlon Brando’s The Wild One in 1953 to the 1986 smash-hit Top Gun.

9. The Matrix Holds the Record for Most Sunglasses in a Movie

While the second Top Gun may be responsible for introducing a new generation to the aviator frame, The Matrix takes the cake for the most sunglasses worn in a film. Not only that, sunglasses play a central role in character development.

If you look closely, you’ll notice that all the “good guys” wear rounded or oval frames. All the agents, on the other hand, wear exclusively rectangular frames.

10. The Inuit People Developed the First Protective Eyewear

Although it wouldn’t be correct to call them sunglasses, the Inuit people used goggles to protect their eyes from UV rays more than 2,000 years ago. These early snow goggles were especially useful in the Arctic, where sunlight reflecting off snow could lead to snow blindness.

Made from bone, wood, or another hard material, these goggles were designed to cover the eye and leave a small slit to see through. This slit narrowed and sharpened the wearer’s field of vision while protecting their eyes from the glare of the snow.

11. Tinted Lenses Were Used in China in the 12th Century

Another early form of tinted lenses was used in China in the 12th century. Wealthy people would wear sheets of smoky quartz over their eyes to protect them from the sun. Only the wealthy had access to these early shades, as they would have cost roughly the same amount as a horse when adjusted for inflation.

That said, smoky quartz wasn’t only used outdoors. Chinese judges also placed this tinted quartz over their eyes to hide their facial expressions and reactions to court proceedings.

12. You Won’t Worsen Your Eyesight by Wearing Someone Else’s Glasses

A common myth is often circulated that wearing someone else’s glasses will make your eyesight worse. We’re happy to report that this is not, in fact, true.

If you need to wear a friend’s glasses for a few hours or want to see how their frames look on you, it will not damage your eyes or change your prescription. However, if their prescription is significantly stronger than yours, you may experience eye fatigue, a headache, or discomfort if you wear their frames for extended periods of time.

13. Sunglasses Can Be Pricey — Just Ask Chopard

The most expensive commercially available sunglasses were made in 2012 by the luxury brand Chopard. Featuring 51 full-cut river diamonds and 60 grams of 24-carat gold, this pair of sunglasses is worth $400,000. Luckily, Pair offers much more affordable sunglasses that are just as stylish.

Wrapping Up

Glasses and sunglasses have come a long way since they were invented. Worn by nearly half the world's population, they’ve played an essential role in human history and continue to improve the lives of nearly 50% of people.

You might never have as many frames as Elton John, but there are countless options available if you want to level up your look. For the perfect new pair, look no further than Pair!

Sources:

The Quest for Clearer Vision: The History of Eyeglasses | Salus at Drexel University

In search of better bifocals | University of Minnesota

What is Photokeratitis — Including Snow Blindness? | American Academy of Ophthalmology

Watch Elton John’s Life in Looks Proves He’s Always Had a Flair for Style | Vogue