According to experts, best place to buy eyeglasses are the fifth most important invention since the discovery of fire and the wheel. The reason: For the first time in human history, millions of people are able to enjoy good vision despite vision problems. Today we take it for granted, but for centuries there was simply no solution for people with visual impairments, so glasses still had to be invented. It took a long time for people to invent the modern glasses we know today. The process involved a lot of experimentation, and many different types of glasses were invented and eliminated during the process. Better Vision takes you through the history of eyewear - from the "reading stone" to the pursuit of a stylish lifestyle and fashion accessories.
The invention of eyeglasses is considered an important step in the cultural history of humanity: suddenly, people with visual impairments could not only play an active role in daily life, but also study for long periods of time, expand their knowledge and pass it on to others. The great Roman orator Cicero (106-43 BC) lamented how complicated it was to get slaves to read texts aloud. Or use a special visual device invented by the Emperor Nero (37-68 AD) : He watched his beloved gladiators fight through transparent emeralds, hoping the light would fresher his eyes. This idea continued into the 19th century. The "sunglasses" of that period had green lenses and could be worn indoors. But when and where did the invention of suitable visual AIDS begin?
The world's first visual aid
The Arab scholar and astronomer Ibn al-Heitam (circa 965-1040 AD) was the first to suggest that smooth lenses might help people with visual impairments. However, the idea of using glass ball components for optical amplification was not put into practice until many years later. His "Book of Optics" was translated into Latin in 1240, and many monks in the monastery became loyal readers. It was here that Ibn al-Heitam's idea became a reality: in the 13th century, Italian monks developed a hemispherical lens made of crystal and quartz that, when placed over the text, magnified the letters! This "reading stone" is a great thing for many elderly monks who suffer from presbyopia, and it significantly improves their quality of life. During this time, the German word for glasses (Brille) also came into being. The term is derived from beryll, which is the name of the crystal that smoothly formed the first lens.
