Eyeglasses
Doubling the working life of humanity.
Explore this event on the interactive timeline →The first wearable eyeglasses were invented in Northern Italy in the late 13th century. By mounting two convex glass lenses in leather or bone frames, craftsmen created a tool that could correct presbyopia (farsightedness).
Verified Facts
- Before eyeglasses, scholars, monks, and skilled craftsmen (like jewelers or watchmakers) were forced to retire in their 40s once their natural near-vision began to degrade.
- Eyeglasses effectively doubled the active working life of the world's most highly skilled people, massively accelerating cultural and technological progress.
- Concave lenses for nearsightedness (myopia) weren't invented until a few hundred years later.