Who Invented Sunglasses And Which Are Right For You

Sunglasses weren’t always used to protect people’s eyes from the sun. They have been around for a long time.

Sunglasses date back to ancient Rome where it is reported that the  emperor Nero enjoyed watching the gladiator fights through polished gems. And in China sunglasses were used in the twelfth century or even earlier.

They were first made out of lenses that were flat pieces of smoky quartz. They were not used to correct vision and they did not block any UV rays, but they did reduce the glare and made bright sunny days a little easier on the eyes.

Judges in ancient China used smoky quartz glasses to hide their eyes in order to interview witnesses.

The Start of Modern Sunglasses

It was not until the eighteenth century that what we would consider as sunglasses started to appear. James Ayscough experimented with tinted lenses in glasses. He believed that glass coloured green or blue would help to correct eye problems.

But development was slow even though people did start wearing them.

Mr.Sam Foster introduced the sunglasses to America in 1929 where they underwent more change. They were designed to protect people’s eyes from the sun and Foster sold them at local beaches and at Woolworths.

Polarized sunglasses became popular in 1936 when Edwin H.Land began to use his Polaroid filter when making sunglasses.

Even more Americans began buying sunglasses and they became very popular amongst musicians and movie stars.

The fact that so many famous people began to wear sunglasses made them “cool” and sales skyrocketed. People even began wearing them at night and indoors.

Sunglass lenses are now made of either glass or plastic and come in a variety of styles like wraps, shields, aviators and clip-ons.

Which Sunglasses To Wear

It is important that you choose sunglasses based on the shape of your face. Select a pair that is opposite to that shape.

If you have a round face don’t select round glasses because it would make your face look fuller. Sunglasses in geometric shapes, ovals, shields, wraps and angular frames will be right for anybody with a round face.

And choose frames that would make your face look thinner.

Round frames would suit those with a thin or angular face. If you have an oval face, wide frames would look best.

Always choose sunglasses that suit your face shape.

And dont worry about the colour of the lenses. The shade of your sunglasses need not match the colour of the outfit you are wearing. Sunglasses in a single shade will match any outfit.

Choose instead the sort and colour of the frames that will bring out certain colours in the clothes that you are wearing. Choosing a colourful frame in sunglasses will also break the monotony of the colour of your clothes.