00:00 Let's take a walk down memory lane, back to the earliest days of human history when
00:04 our ancestors walked the earth as nomadic tribes.
00:09 Consider for a moment what life must have been like for those with impaired vision.
00:13 For those lucky enough to have only minor sight issues, they could probably navigate
00:18 their way around without too much difficulty.
00:21 But for those with severe vision problems, the challenges were formidable.
00:25 Their productivity and usefulness to their tribe could be greatly compromised, potentially
00:30 leading to their abandonment.
00:33 As we settled down and formed communities, the way we treated each other began to shift,
00:38 and we started to look at those with severe sight issues with a bit more kindness and
00:43 empathy.
00:44 However, without the scientific knowledge that we have today, there was limited capacity
00:49 to provide support.
00:54 Before glasses were available, those with minor vision problems like nearsightedness
00:58 were probably not that affected.
01:01 While their vision impairments might have made certain tasks like hunting or spotting
01:06 threats more difficult, these individuals could still contribute to the survival of
01:10 their tribe and therefore were generally accepted by their peers.
01:16 Over time, as vision progressively worsened, many people learned to adapt.
01:21 The gradual decline in their eyesight over several years may not have even been noticeable
01:26 to them, so they developed coping mechanisms like relying more heavily on their other senses.
01:33 It's also worth noting that precise vision wasn't as essential then as it is now.
01:38 For a huge chunk of our history, literacy rates were low, often around 20% or less,
01:45 and formal education was not essential for most jobs.
01:49 As such, vision problems did not necessarily affect an individual's ability to work or
01:54 learn.
01:57 Most people were not expected to perform tasks that required exceptional eyesight.
02:02 So, they could get by as long as they could carry out their tasks, which would often be
02:07 in the form of physical work.
02:10 It may seem harsh by today's standards, but if your sight was good enough to work on,
02:15 say, a field, you could at least secure food and income.
02:21 Fast forward to the 13th century, when the first glimmers of what we would recognize
02:25 today as eyeglasses began to appear.
02:28 These early versions of spectacles were fundamentally just magnifying glasses, only serving to help
02:34 with reading tasks.
02:37 As the centuries rolled by, glasses grew more complex and began to resemble what we recognize
02:42 today around the 17th and 18th centuries.
02:47 Now let's look at the interesting history of eyeglasses for a bit.
02:52 Their journey to completion took several centuries, dotted with countless visionaries and their
02:56 inventive ideas.
02:58 However, the mystery behind who invented wearable glasses remains unsolved.
03:04 We do know that our ancient friends, the Romans, were the first ones to unravel the magic of
03:09 glass and its power to magnify tiny text, giving birth to many magnifying glasses.
03:17 Fast forward to Italy in the 13th century, where we meet the earliest wearable glasses
03:23 in recorded history.
03:25 These had rudimentary lenses crafted by skilled glassblowers, which were popped into frames
03:30 made of wood, leather, or sometimes even animal horn, and held up to the face or balanced
03:35 on the nose.
03:37 As the tech improved during the Renaissance, these contraptions became more common.
03:44 How do we know these glasses existed, you ask?
03:47 Well, thanks to art.
03:49 Paintings from the early Renaissance period often portray scholars with handheld frames
03:54 or eyeglasses perched on their noses.
03:57 Based on rudimentary vision tests, the Italian glassblowers fashioned lenses of varying thicknesses.
04:04 As their popularity soared, these eyeglasses began their journey from Italy to the rest
04:09 of Europe, becoming a luxury accessory available to those who could afford them.
04:14 Given the importance placed on knowledge during the Renaissance, glasses became badges of
04:19 intellectual prowess and wealth.
04:23 For a while, it looked like eyeglass technology had hit a plateau.
04:27 The next significant leap forward didn't happen until the 1700s, when eyeglasses became
04:33 hands-free with the introduction of temples that extended over the ears.
04:37 One of the most notable examples of these modern glasses is the "Martin's Margins,"
04:43 designed by inventor Benjamin Martin.
04:45 Today, these glasses are highly sought after by collectors, but they were the trailblazers
04:51 in the quest for more accurate and thinner lenses held together by robust frames.
04:57 Since glasses graduated to being "over the ear," their evolution seemed to pick up the
05:02 pace.
05:04 Even Benjamin Franklin contributed to this rapid development by inventing the bifocal
05:08 lens, a nifty solution for those juggling near and far-sighted vision issues.
05:14 He ingeniously sliced two lenses and merged them into one frame.
05:20 Around the same time, scissor spectacles gained popularity.
05:24 These were essentially pocket-friendly glasses, foldable like a pair of scissors, and perfect
05:29 for those moments when you needed a quick peek at something important.
05:33 Some gentlemen weren't thrilled about wearing glasses all the time, so these compact glasses
05:38 were the perfect solution.
05:41 As the 19th century arrived, eyeglasses were still handmade and not accessible to everyone.
05:47 But thanks to the upcoming industrial revolution, mass production of both frames and lenses
05:52 were on the horizon, making it easier for hard-working folks to correct their vision.
05:58 The early 1800s also witnessed the introduction of unique cylindrical lenses designed to correct
06:04 astigmatism.
06:07 In the 20th century, eyeglasses began to morph from a vision necessity to a fashion accessory.
06:13 An array of frames with different shapes, materials, and colors started flooding the
06:17 market, allowing wearers to select glasses that complemented their face shape, eye color,
06:23 or even their outfit.
06:25 Take Theodore Roosevelt, for instance.
06:27 He rocked glasses with no earpieces that stayed put with a nose clip.
06:31 Although these fell out of style as they became associated with the older generation, they
06:36 were quite the rage back in the day.
06:39 The real game-changer was the advent of sturdy plastics.
06:43 Wearers no longer had to rely on wood, metal, or horn.
06:48 Plastic could be molded into an assortment of shapes and sizes.
06:52 The 20th century was also when we witnessed the rise of sunglasses.
06:58 While the idea was born in Asia during the 12th century, they were originally intended
07:02 to mask the expressions of judges in court, not to improve vision or shield from the sun.
07:10 Some manufacturers played around with colored lenses, but not for protective reasons.
07:15 Soon enough, though, tinted sunglasses became popular for light sensitivity due to certain
07:20 medical conditions.
07:22 This trend caught on quickly, and by the end of the 1920s, sunglasses were being mass-produced
07:27 not just for sun protection, but also to reduce glare.
07:32 The 80s brought us plastic lenses, which were less prone to breaking and could be made lighter
07:37 and thinner than their glass counterparts.
07:40 The innovation didn't stop there.
07:42 Today, we have glasses with protective coatings that reduce glare and block harmful UV light.
07:49 Fascinating as this may have been, another interesting discovery has to do with the percentage
07:55 of people affected by vision issues.
07:58 Some studies suggest that short-sightedness or myopia wasn't as widespread in the past
08:03 as it is today.
08:05 Truth is, we've seen a skyrocketing number of folks diagnosed with this condition.
08:10 Projections even suggest that by 2050, every second person on the planet might be myopic.
08:17 One particular study brought to light that myopia now impacts more than double the number
08:22 of kids in the UK compared to the 60s.
08:25 Also, in some parts of Asia, the situation is even more pronounced.
08:30 While doctors and researchers worldwide are trying to figure out the root cause of this
08:34 problem, some label it as nothing short of an epidemic.
08:38 The theories are many, with some pointing the finger at genetics or the surge in time
08:43 spent glued to screens and buried in books.
08:47 But then there are other scientists who've noticed a link between children who play less
08:51 outside and the likelihood of developing myopia.
08:55 Regardless of what's fueling this situation, it's fair to say that myopia probably didn't
09:00 impact as many folks in the days of old as it does today.
09:04 The relatively recent invention of glasses for nearsightedness suggests that it wasn't
09:09 such a pressing issue in the past.
09:12 Maybe people found ways to adjust their lifestyles to manage their shortsightedness better?
09:17 Or perhaps there was a greater emphasis on matching jobs to people's visual abilities
09:22 instead of hunting for tech solutions to level the playing field?
09:27 That's it for today.
09:29 So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
09:34 friends!
09:35 Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!
