The Mens Domain

How Were Sunglasses Discovered

First of all, what are sunglasses? Sunglasses are defined as a visual aid which feature lenses that are colored or darkened or have polarized lenses to protect the eyes from the sun’s glare.
Why were sunglasses developed? Contrary to popular belief sunglasses were not first developed to protect our eyes from the sun. History has it that smoked tinting was the first means of darkening eyeglasses and the technology was developed in China prior to 1430. These darkened lenses were not vision-corrected. So just why were the lenses darkened and why were they, developed and for what purpose?
Chinese judges wore smoke-colored quartz lenses to conceal their eye expressions in court. A judge’s evaluation of evidence as credible or mendacious was to remain a secret until the trial’s conclusion. It may come as a surprise that it wasn’t until the 20th century that modern-type sunglasses came to be.
In 1929 Sam Foster manufactured and sold the first pair of Foster Grant sunglasses. Sam Foster found a ready made market for sunglasses on the beaches of Atlantic City and New Jersey. In the 1930s, the USA Army Air Corps commissioned the optical firm of Bausch and Lomb to produce a highly effective spectacle that would protect pilots eyes from the danger of high-altitude glare.
With world War two brewing in 1936, Ray Ban designed an anti-glare aviator style pair of sunglasses, using polarized lenses to maximally shield an aviator’s eyes. Fliers were issued these glasses at no charge and the public in 1937 were able to purchase the model that banned the sun’s rays as Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses.
As women since ancient times had hidden seductively behind an expanded fan or a dipped parasol, modern women and men discovered an allure in wearing sunglasses, respective of solar glare.
So let me ask the question, and be brutally honest,“ why do you wear sunglasses”? What do you really look like behind a pair of sunglasses? Do you really wear them for the sun’s glare ?
What to look for when buying a pair of. Since for the most part we really do buy sunglasses to protect our eyes from the sun’s rays, especially when we are behind the wheel of a vehicle may I suggest that you please don’t buy price, don’t just go with the least expensive ones. I am a firm believer that you do get what you pay for. This is far too important of an item to skimp on. Just how important are your eyes?. Whether you are driving down the highway on a great summer afternoon in your car with your family or just on the beach relaxing. Make sure first of all that the arms of the glasses do fit behind your ears correctly and that they are comfortable. Next, get the store clerk to go outside of the store with you so you can give the glasses a reality check and an honest test. Do not look directly into the sun with or without the glasses.
Personally there are two items that I purchase that I don’t skimp on and that is tires for my car and sunglasses. My last pair of sunglasses cost me $ 200.00, don’t tell my wife, so please be careful on your selection and do take your time as it is very important. You don’t have to spend $ 200.00 but at the time I was driving a commercial vehicle and safety is the first thing your are taught when driving such a large vehicle. Nevertheless, commercial vehicle or not, when you are behind the wheel of any vehicle you should be giving 100 % attention to what you are doing because you have other peoples lives as well as your own life in your hands. Trust me on this one because being a commercial driver I have seen it all. Please drive carefully and give the commercial vehicles some room, they can’t stop on a dime. Become a defensive driver, and arrive alive. Remember the old saying, and it is true, speed kills.