Optical

I was on my way to the newsagent the other day and suddenly realised everywhere was a bit discombobulated. I’d put on my reading glasses by mistake. A handy reminder for how people coped before glasses were invented.

The understanding of how early humans addressed vision problems is limited. However, archaeological evidence suggests a reliance on strong eyesight for survival. Activities like hunting, gathering, and crafting required good visual acuity. People with limited vision likely played different roles within their communities, focusing on tasks that didn't demand sharp vision. They relied heavily on their other senses, particularly touch, hearing, and smell, to compensate for blurry sight.

Girl wearing glasses

Oral traditions played a vital role in these communities, with knowledge, history, and stories being passed down through generations by word of mouth. This reliance on auditory learning and memory skills allowed those with poor vision to contribute significantly to their communities and preserve their cultures.

The earliest recorded attempts to improve vision date back to ancient civilizations. From Egypt to China, our ancestors embarked on quests to overcome the challenges of impaired sight. Here's a glimpse into the earliest recorded attempts to improve vision:

Egyptians: The Egyptians used simple magnification techniques. They filled vessels with water to magnify small text or objects, taking advantage of the water's refractive properties.

Water as a magnifier

Romans and Greeks: The Romans and Greeks experimented with polished gemstones or beryl, using them as magnifying glasses to read texts and inspect objects more closely.

Indians: In India, texts from the 5th century BCE discuss the use of crystal lenses to magnify small objects, indicating an early understanding of the principles behind magnification. However, these were not corrective lenses for vision impairments but rather tools for detailed work or study.

Chinese: The early Chinese invention of eyeglasses, crafted with frames made from horn or tortoiseshell, represents another significant milestone in the history of vision aids. These early eyeglasses, appeared several centuries before their adoption in Europe.

All of the above deserve an article on their own and the information was from Urban Optiks.

A Reading Stone

The Middle Ages in Europe marked a period of significant experimentation and discovery in the realm of vision correction. Monks, who spent hours transcribing texts, were among the first to use primitive reading stones—a type of magnifying glass made from a transparent sphere. These stones, placed directly on the reading material, allowed for enlargement of letters.

It is generally accepted that the invention of glasses, understood as the first pair of corrective spectacles was created in Italy sometime between 1268 and 1300, but the exact date is disputed. These were essentially two magnifying glasses (reading stones) joined by a hinge that rested on the bridge of the nose.

But soon spectacle-making guilds in the 13th century in cities like Venice, were instrumental in refining the designs and production techniques of eyeglasses. Their efforts led to improvements in the quality and durability of glasses, making them more practical and accessible. The guilds also played a role in standardizing the production of lenses and frames, contributing to the spread of eyeglasses across Europe.

First painting showing glasses, by Tomaso da Modena

As for this week’s poem I had immediately thought of the lines below when I saw the topic. But I had thought that they were part of a longer one but it is in fact just this. But it is DP. And it’s completely untrue:

Men seldom make passes
At girls who wear glasses.

Dorothy Parker, Not So Deep as a Well (1937), "News Item"

Thanks for reading, Terry Q.