Eye Glasses: A Brief History
Eye glasses have been the predominant means of assisting those with seeing disabilities for centuries. Prior to the introduction of contact lenses and laser surgical techniques, eye glasses were the sole means of making the blurry world of people with vision challenges into a bright, clear, visible world. Even as medical technology and advances reduces and perhaps someday eliminates the need for eye glasses, people still choose them as their primary means of seeing their world more clearly. Eye glasses are likely descended from lenses used in ancient times for burning parchment, and for the first forms of magnification. While the Chinese are given credit by some as the first to develop eye glasses as we know them, documented evidence suggests that they were not used to correct vision, but were worn to ward off evil spirits. From there, substantial written evidence dating back to the thirteenth century offers conclusive proof that eye glasses worn for the stated