Traces of history: The development of eyeglasses

The most primitive discount prescription glasses originated from lenses (magnifying glasses).

According to the World's Best, the Chinese emperor observed the stars through a lens meter in 2283 BC.

In China, in the Warring States Period (475 BC - 221 BC), the 15 volu

The most primitive discount prescription glasses originated from lenses (magnifying glasses).

 

According to the World's Best, the Chinese emperor observed the stars through a lens meter in 2283 BC.

 

In China, in the Warring States Period (475 BC - 221 BC), the 15 volumes of Mozi have recorded a lot of light and for the flat mirror, convex mirror, concave mirror discussion. In the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Heng discovered the initial cause of the moon's waxing and waning and the lunar eclipse, also with the help of lenses.

 

Crystal magnifying glass unearthed from Liu Jing's tomb

The exquisite object was unearthed in the tomb of Liu Jing on the Jiuquan Mountain in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, where a small and exquisite crystal magnifying glass was unearthed. It is a crystal convex mirror, round, and set in a finger ring of gold, it can magnify objects five times. Liu Jing was the son of Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

 

At the end of the 13th century, it was recorded in the Travels of Marco Polo that "old people in China wear glasses when they read small print." However, there are no relevant artifacts to prove that the glasses actually existed at that time.

 

Rogil Bacon

It was at this time, in 1268, that Rogil Bacon first recorded the use of lenses for optical purposes.

 

So far, I have found three theories about the invention of glasses on the Internet:

The first is the middle and late 13th century, the related technology of making magnifying glasses with crystal gems has been very mature, and Italy's Sauvino de Geri Amadi thought of using convex lenses to correct vision. With this idea in mind, Amadi began to study how to curve glass, how to adjust the Angle, and finally made glass into the first pair of far-sighted glasses.

 

The second, in Florence, Italy, in 1289, is said to have been invented by an optician named Almato and an Italian named Spina living in the city of Pisa.

 

The last one is said to be invented by the English philosopher Roger Bacon (1214-1294), who once took a walk and found that the spider's web was stained with a lot of water, and he found that when he looked at the leaves through the water, the meridians on the veins of the leaves were enlarged so much that even the thin hairs on the leaves could be seen. After discovering this phenomenon, Bacon was very excited, he found a glass ball, through the glass ball to read the text, some blurred, and then he cut out a piece of glass, the text was enlarged, the experiment was successful, and finally made glasses.

 

But all three dates from the mid-to-late 13th century, and there is no definitive evidence to prove who really invented glasses.

 

Hugh of Provence

Hugh of Provence, painted by the Italian painter Tommaso Da Modena in 1352, shows an elderly man reading a book through a lens, the first European portrait with glasses.

 

"Nandu complex scenery Scroll" partial

Ming Dynasty - Qiu Ying (1498-1552), painted the "Nandu Complex Scenery Scroll", this volume describes the prosperous commercial scene of Nanjing city in the Ming Dynasty. In this scroll, you can see an old man wearing glasses on the bridge of his nose at the door of a gold shop with a sign that reads "Gold beads exchanged", but you can not see his legs hanging behind his ears and the string tied behind his head.

 

Ming Wanli (1573-1620 July), Tian Yiheng in the "stay green Day Zha" volume two "叆叇" article cloud: "Every read the article, the eyes are tired, do not distinguish the details, to cover the eyes, the spirit does not scatter, the pen letter Ming. With silk silk, tied to the back of the head, people do not know, to ask more. Yu said: this 叆叇 also." At this time 叆叇 is the original name of glasses.

 

But there is no clear evidence as to whether glasses were imported or invented locally.

 

Benjamin Franklin

In 1784, the American inventor Benjamin Franklin, because he has near vision and far vision, he used two pairs of lenses to make a double focus lens, invented the near and far vision glasses.

 

In 1827, Fuller invented the cylindrical lens to correct straightening.

 

In 1860, Snellen invented the standard eye chart, which made vision powerful.

 

In 1837, Lsaac Schnaitman perfected the stereoscopic bifocal lens.

 

In 1899, John Borisch invented the fused bifocal lens (that is, using two different kinds of glass) and named it "invisible bifocal".

 

In 1954, French engineers invented resin lenses, and the reform of this lens material made glasses enter civilian families, and this resin material has been used ever since.

 

Now, glasses are no longer a tool to correct eye vision, and specific glasses have decorative and protective effects.

 

Finally, I hope you should pay attention to protect your eyes and eyesight, and it is best not to wear glasses.


Tina Yuu

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