I found the ezibition "Windows to the World: The Science of Sight and the Ophthalmic Art" exhibition located in the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago, Illinois to be fascinating. I learned things about vision aides that I never knew before.
The collection is on the 2nd floor and was donated to the museum by Dr. J. William Rosenthal in 2002.
PROTECTING YOUR MOST PRECIOUS SENSE
Covering up with bones and tea stones
The Inuit sunshade is considered the first form of protective eyewear to be used. Subjected daily to the glare of the sun reflecting off ice and snow, the Inuit of the Arctic region bear a high risk of suffering from “snow blindness,” a temporary but debilitating injury to the eye. To solve the problem, Inuit crafted goggles of bone or wood, into which they carved a thin slit that they could see through. The slit was just large enough to block out excessive light, and also shielded the eyes from wind and snow, while allowing a comfortable range of vision. The Chinese are often credited for using the first true sunglasses in the 13th century, which consisted of thin tinted slabs of crystal called “tea stone” set in frames of tortoise shell, horn or sandalwood.
Looking at life through wine-colored glasses
Use of sunglasses among Europeans did not appear until around 1561, when Jarius Aucott advocated the use of green glass spectacles as being “of great public utility and benefit.” By the 1700s, Italian glassmakers had developed a wide array of glass colorants that could be used to tint sunglasses. Those who could afford them could choose from lenses in such diverse colors as “yellow green, sea green, light blue, deep blue, yellow, violet, wine-colored, and pink.” When it was discovered in 1845 that light passing through a blue lens and focused on a compass needle could magnetize the needle, blue lenses became “the rage” for their mysterious and stimulating properties. Hunters and sportsmen preferred glasses with amber lenses, which had the ability to sharpen visual acuity in dim or foggy conditions.
Protection from the perils of the industrial age
Nature has provided for the protection of our eyes by outfitting the body with eyelids, which are often not enough to protect our eyes from the perils of modern life. Among the earliest protective glasses are those that shielded stagecoach passengers from the dust, rocks, and sunlight they would encounter on the trail. Railroad engineers, likewise, required protection from the perils of their profession, namely smoke and burning cinders. Since windows were an uncommon luxury on the earliest railroad cars, even the passengers were encouraged to don protective goggles during their journey. Further technological advancements imperiled the eyes, requiring the development of suitable protective eyewear. Aviators needed goggles that protected against airborne debris and bugs without restricting vision; automobile and motorcycle drivers encountered dust, bugs, and the glare from the headlamps of oncoming traffic; and metal workers required protection from the shrapnel and bright ultraviolet light that results from welding.
Captions & Labels:
PROTECTO SHIELD
PATENTED
Makes Office work Enjoyable
PROTECTS AND SHIELDS THE EYES FROM SUN-GLARE OR STRONG ARTIFICIAL LIGHT WITHOUT OBSCURING THE NATURAL VISION.
OPTICAL ACCESSORIES TO DAZZLE AND IMPRESS!
Inquisitive minds carry quizzers, ladies of luxury use lorgnettes
The main purpose of the quizzing glass was to decorate oneself and impress others; thus, they were often highly ornamented with gold, precious stones, and other fanciful embellishments. Invariably the quizzer was hung on a cord or ribbon that encircled the neck. This arrangement was convenient, as it was available for use at a moment’s notice, and was quite visible to others as well. While some wearers had legitimate claim to the medical necessity of quizzers, most others simply used them for effect. The lorgnette (from the French lorgner, to leer) is another hand-held optical accessory, but boasts two lenses instead of one, like a pair of spectacles with a handle. A woman’s accessory almost exclusively, the lenses of the lorgnette typically folded into the handle when not in use, and the device hung around the neck by a ribbon, or was tucked in the purse.
Monocles are a gentleman’s best friend
Developed by the German Baron Philipp von Stosch in the early 1700s, the monocle soon became widely used throughout Germany and Austria. Although the early use of monocles was confined to those suffering from presbyopia or myopia, it was later adopted by members of the upper class purely as a matter of fashion in imitation of the aristocracy. Use of the monocle in France and England as a decorative affectation remained popular until 1830, after which the accessory was typically only used among the older upper class. The monocle was introduced around 1880 in the U.S., where its use was popular only among a limited social set. The monocle came into disrepute entirely after World War I, because the look had become associated with German military officials.
A little jewel to spy you through...
Before the invention of binocular opera glass in 1825, it was customary to carry a single tube monocular to the theater and opera as much to get a better view of the scenes on stage as to spy on other members of the audience. When the Lumiere Company of Paris perfected the joining of two monoculars into a single implement, the result was better visual acuity and depth perception than the use of one eye alone could accomplish. The theater was a large part of the social life in those times, and when patrons recognized the benefits of this new invention the demand for opera glasses became overwhelming. Finely crafted and richly embellished, opera glasses, considered “little jewels,” were an indispensable accessory for the opera and theater aficionado.
Captions & Labels:
.I've worn glasses for years, but am beginning to have difficulties with my vision.
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All photos are from my family albums.
