The story of sunglasses
You should never leave home without your sunglasses — they help protect your eyes and can make you look cool. Yes, sunglasses are a huge part of our culture, but did you ever stop to think about how long they’ve been around and how they’ve evolved?
Believe it or not, the earliest sunglasses were actually worn in prehistoric times, and they’ve come a long, long way since. Read on to learn more about the history and evolution of sunglasses, our favorite fashionable and functional accessory.
Sunglasses: The early days
Based on artifacts that have been discovered, it appears that sunglasses date back to the Inuit, who fashioned goggles that could protect their eyes from the glare and discomfort of snow blindness.
These snow goggles shielded the eyes with only narrow slits in the front. Inuit people also rubbed them with soot to further combat the sun’s glare reflecting off the snow.
Although these weren’t “glasses” per se, the Inuit were onto an idea that wouldn’t be fully realized until centuries later.
The next major civilization to experiment with sunglasses was ancient China. However, they were used for a very different reason.
These “sunglasses” were worn by judges who were supposed to remain stoic and impartial, and therefore wanted a way to hide their eyes and their emotions.
In the mid-1700s, one of the biggest milestones in sunglasses history occurred. That’s when English optician James Ayscough made the recommendation to add tint to eyeglass lenses to treat vision problems.
From there, lenses that were tinted blue and green were developed.
Ayscough is often credited with being a major sunglasses pioneer.
The last major development that would ultimately influence future sunglasses came from Sir David Brewster during his studies on polarized light. Brewster (who also invented the kaleidoscope) figured out the angle at which light on a reflective surface may be transmitted as plane-polarized. This came to be known as “Brewster’s Angle,” and without it, we likely wouldn’t have polarized sunglasses today.
Sunglasses go mainstream
Little by little, people began wearing tinted glasses to deal with eye issues, such as light sensitivity, which was a symptom of conditions like syphilis.
Sunglasses weren’t something that people with normal vision wore or necessarily wanted. In fact, people who wore them were often assumed to have a problem with their eyes.
Much of that changed in 1929, thanks to Sam Foster. Foster sold the first pair of sunglasses on the Atlantic City boardwalk intended for the mass market.
Meanwhile, in Hollywood, sunglasses were also starting to become associated with glamour and glitz. Back then, movie stars began wearing sunglasses to protect their eyes from the strong lighting on movie sets.
Then came 1936, when the American inventor Edwin H. Land created a polarizing lightweight filter that could be produced inexpensively for use on sunglasses.
With that polarization technology in place, special sunglasses intended as anti-glare spectacles for military pilots were developed. Soon after, they were marketed to outdoor enthusiasts.
While regular sunglasses at the time cost a few cents, this style was considered a specialty item, priced at several dollars. The shape and tint of these sporting gear sunglasses ushered in aviator sunglasses, which are still popular today.
Sunglasses and pop culture
From the mid-20th century to the present, sunglasses have become a huge part of pop culture, with fashion icons, rock stars, actors and politicians sporting shades.
John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Audrey Hepburn and Bono are just a few celebrities who have their own signature sunglass style.
Other famous shades include Jackie O’s large, round sunglasses and the cat-eye style worn by Marilyn Monroe that dominated the 1950s and 1960s.
The 1970s were all about oversized frames (think Lynda Carter in “Wonder Woman”), while the 1990s trend was smaller with colorful tints.
Tom Cruise’s “Risky Business” role helped make black square sunglasses a popular look in the 1980s.
And perhaps no pop culture figure has done more to promote sunglasses than Elton John, who probably has one of the largest and most eclectic collections.
Songs that have been written about sunglasses or that mention them include ZZ Top’s “Cheap Sunglasses,” Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night,” and The Eagles’ song “Boys of Summer,” which nods to classic dark square sunglasses.
In film, sunglasses have had supporting roles in everything from “They Live” to “Men in Black,” and have given many characters their memorable looks, from “The Matrix” to “Scarface.”
Sunglasses today: So many options
With more awareness than ever before of the potential harm caused by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, sunglasses aren’t just a cool accessory but a necessity. This is something the Inuit were aware of many centuries ago, even if they didn’t actually know about UV protection.
Today, people of all ages — from babies to seniors — wear sunglasses year-round. There’s even a National Sunglasses Day, celebrated annually on June 27, to raise awareness of how wearing shades can help protect your eyes.
There are numerous options when it comes to choosing sunglasses. You can find shades that fit over prescription glasses, flip up or clip onto regular frames, sports sunglasses and more. Photochromic lenses are another option, which automatically darken outdoors and lighten again indoors. Polarized lenses help reduce glare from reflective surfaces, such as water, sand or concrete.
No matter what pair of sunglasses you choose, it’s important to make sure they offer 100% UVA and UVB (or UV 400) lens protection.
The good news is, with a range of retail options in stores and online, you can find sunglasses in just about any style, shape, color and size to fit your budget and personal preferences.
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