8 Fascinating Facts about Glasses

What do you know about glasses? You might know that they help people see clearly, but did you also know that the earliest known example of wearable eyeglasses date back to 13th century Italy? Or that most people can't see anything with their peripheral vision when they're wearing glasses? Here are eight fascinating tidbits and facts about glasses.

 The First Glass Frames Were Made From Natural Materials

 Way back in the day, glass frames were made of horn, wood, and tortoiseshell. It wasn't until the early 1800s that glasses frames were made out of metal. Today, plastic is the most common material for eyeglass frames.

 The First Eyeglasses Were Developed in Italy

 As we mentioned earlier, the earliest known example of wearable eyeglasses dates back to 13th century Italy. A man by the name of Salvino D'Armate is credited with their invention.

 Most People Can't See Anything With Their Peripheral Vision When They're Wearing Glasses

 Your peripheral vision is what you use to see things in your surroundings that aren't directly in front of you. And when you're wearing glasses, most of your peripheral vision is blocked because the lenses are in the way.

 It Takes About a Week for Your Eyes to Adjust to New Glasses

 If you've just gotten a new pair of glasses, don't be surprised if it takes about a week for your eyes to adjust. During that time, you might experience some headaches and eye fatigue.

 37.1% Glasses Wearer Owns Two Pairs

 Some Americans don't just have one pair of glasses. A recent study found that 37.1% of glasses wearers own two pairs of glasses --one for everyday wear and one for special occasions.

 Eyeglasses Were A Status Symbol

 In the early days, glasses were actually considered a status symbol because they were so expensive to produce. As a result, only the wealthy could afford to have them.

 It's Said That Benjamin Franklin Invented Bifocals

 There's some debate over who actually invented bifocals, but it's often said that Benjamin Franklin was the one responsible for them. He supposedly came up with the idea after he noticed that his reading glasses were too weak to help him see clearly when he was looking up.

 Wearing Someone Else's Glasses Can't Damage Your Eyes

 Some people believe that if you wear someone else's glasses, their prescription will transfer to your eyes and damage them. But this isn't true. Your eyes won't be damaged just because you wore someone else's glasses for a few hours. The only thing that could happen is that their prescription might be too strong for your eyes, and you could experience some discomfort or headaches.

 Bonus Fact:  In the US, there are over 164 million glasses wearers. That's more than 50% of the population!

 As you can see, glasses are a lot more than just something people use to see clearly. They've been around for centuries and have a rich history.

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