While pinpointing a single inventor of sunglasses is difficult due to their evolution over centuries, James Ayscough, an 18th-century optician, is frequently credited with a significant early development.
Early Forms of Sun Protection
Long before modern sunglasses, various cultures utilized rudimentary eye protection from the sun.
- Inuit Snow Goggles (2000 years ago): These early goggles protected eyes from harsh sunlight and glare. [Source: Warby Parker]
- 12th Century China: Flat, smoked quartz lenses, known as Ai Tai, were used, though primarily by the wealthy. [Source: Fashioneyewear.com, Genuine Vintage Sunglasses]
Ayscough's Contribution
In 1752, James Ayscough experimented with tinted lenses in spectacles. He believed that blue or green tints could correct vision problems and offer therapeutic benefits. While not solely for sun protection, this marks a pivotal step towards the modern sunglass. [Source: FramesDirect.com, Genuine Vintage Sunglasses]
Later Developments
- 18th Century Italy: Goldoni Glasses, the first tinted glasses for sun protection, emerged, popularized for their functionality. [Source: Bauer & Clausen Optometry]
- 1936: Bausch & Lomb introduced a design for the U.S. military, which later became popular in the 1940s. [Source: Wikipedia]
This timeline shows sunglasses weren't a single invention, but a gradual evolution from basic eye protection to the fashionable accessory we know today.
