Magnification dated back in the early 9th century. Abbas lbn Firnas was the one who devised a way to produce very clear magnifying glass by shaping and polishing them into round rocks. Emerald glasses and China’s smokey quartz have been used as the early corrective lens and glare protection in the past.

In 1284Salvino D’almarte produced the first wearable reading glasses . Spectacles use different kind of lenses depending on the condition of the person’s eye. Convex lenses were used to correct both hyperopia(farsightedness) and presbyopia(symptom of aging) while concave lenses treats myopia(nearsightedness). However the famous American Scientist, Benjamin Franklin have both defects which requires him to use bifocals invented in 1784 to treat both myopia and presbyopia.

Eyeglasses evolved from reading stones to the hystorical types of spectacles; pince-nez, monocle and lorgnette. Over time it became more lighter and durable as they found a way to make plastic reading glasses as clear as glass that would provide better vision correction to modify the focal length of the eye and alleviate the effect of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism without the risk of breaking.

Glasses can be a major part of personal expression sometimes they are just for building up identity. Like Elton John and Dame Edna Everage, to Groucho Marx and Buddy Holly they were known for their unique eyewear. Sometimes seeing without them makes them unknown in the public like used by our favorite superheroes Wonderwoman and Superman hiding in their alter ego as Clark Kent or Diana Prince respectively. An example of a halo effect is seen on the stereotypes where those who wear eyeglasses are intelligent to the extent that people wear designer eyewear without any reason at all just to have that smart and mature look. But most of the time they find people wearing glasses to be nerdy and geeky which turns them into wearing contact lenses due to peer pressure.

People like wearing contact lenses than eyeglasses because they feel good and comfortable. contact lenses may cost more than the eyeglasses but they cost less than the surgery without the discomfortof wearing an eyeglasses.Because they are in direct contact with our cornea It requires careful maintenance, safety and precaution. Proper cleaning and disinfection should be done before wearing this type of lenses to avoid infection.

Just like medicines buying or wearing prescription lenses is recommended. Opthalmologist or optometrist uses professional lensmeter to correctly verify the prescribed lens to be used measured in diopters rated at +1.00 to +4.00 diopters. For myopia negative diopter strengths are used.