How long have prescription eyeglasses been around?

From documents that were retrieved in Rome in the 13th Century, we know that prescription eyeglasses were available at that time. They were referred to as "spectacles" rather than glasses. Although we do not know for certain when prescription eyeglasses were invented, we do have proof that they did exist during this time period. A portrait done by an artist named Tomas da Modeno portrays a gentleman wearing eyeglasses. Obviously what we do not know is if they are prescription eyeglasses.

There are, however, other documents such as a manuscript written by a man that implies that if the he wasn't wearing spectacles, he would not be able to read or write.In the 15th century the printing press was invented which meant more reading material was readily available. Thus, the need for prescription glasses increased. The first reading glasses were held by one hand only during the times that they were needed for reading. It was later in the 17th century when people actually wore the glasses regularly, after an optometrist created them with both earpieces. In those times, a person who was having difficulty with their eyesight would just go in and try on several pairs of prescription eyeglasses until they found a fit for their needs.

That changed when Dr. FC Donders wrote the first book on examining the eyes to get prescription eyeglasses. Benjamin Franklin is credited for the invention of the bifocal lens. With a bifocal lens the bottom half is used for reading and the top half is for seeing objects that re further in the distance. The first lenses in the prescription eyeglasses were made from quartz crystal and very low in quality and durability.

Then in the early 1900's, Bausch and Lomb created the glass lens. Today most prescription eyeglasses are made from a plastic material that can be polished and tinted like glass lenses. The advantage to the plastic lens is the lighter weight of the prescription eyeglasses as well as the durability is greatly increased..

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more discount sunglasses, contact lenses, LASIK information and <a target="_new" href=http://www.vision-doctor.com>discount prescription eyeglasses information that you can research in your pajamas in your home.

Keep your stylish flair with designer reading glasses!

Keep your stylish flair with designer reading glasses.Reading glasses can be stylish and fashionable. There are many options in reading glasses today to give you that designer look. Well known fashion designers are even getting into the reading glasses design market. With today's designer reading glasses you will always be on the cutting edge of what is hot.Fashion designers, like Calvin Klein, are making designer reading glasses that are big with the stylish crowd. Reading glasses come in full size and half or mini size.

Designer styles come in both metal and plastic. There are painted designs that add an artsy flair or simple metal styles for a professional look. A trend is matching the tint color of the lenses to the color of the frames. Rimless reading glasses provide an invisible look and lightweight option. The wide variety of styles are also widely available at doctor's offices or online stores.Finding your own style will make that pair of designer reading glasses look...

Keep your stylish flair with designer reading glasses!
Glasses > Keep your stylish flair with designer reading glasses!

Dr. Antonio Prado of Tampa Among First to Use New Intraocular Lens for Cataract Patients

Tampa, FL (ContentDesk) March 9, 2006 -- A revolutionary advance in cataract surgery will be introduced this month by Dr. Antonio Prado of the Prado Vision & Lasik Center at 7522 N. Himes Avenue.AcrySof? ReSTOR? IOL is the first and only apodized diffractive intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract patients with and without presbyopia.
The AcrySof? ReSTOR? IOL, from Alcon, Inc., provides patients with a full range of quality vision (near, intermediate and distance), and greatly reduces reliance on glasses.In clinical trials, 80 percent of patients reported they no longer needed reading glasses or bifocals following bilateral cataract surgery.
Most patients who undergo cataract surgery receive monofocal lenses, which typically require them to use reading glasses or bifocals for near vision following surgery.

With the new AcrySof? ReSTOR? IOL, patients have the potential to reduce their reliance on glasses, said Dr. Prado.
This new lens is a breakthrough...

Dr. Antonio Prado of Tampa Among First to Use New Intraocular Lens for Cataract Patients
Glasses > Dr. Antonio Prado of Tampa Among First to Use New Intraocular Lens for Cataract Patients

Bet You Didn?t Know . . . All Waters Are Not Created Equal

Water fortifies our systems and our cells. Without it, we couldn't survive. And it has been linked to many health benefits, from removing toxins from the system to improving brain function. Those 8 to 12 glasses of water a day are certainly critical . .

. but if the water we drink isn't "clean," we're not doing our bodies much good. Contaminants, from chlorine to aluminum, in our tap water supply have caused many consumers to abandon their taps for bottled water. But bottled waters have their own hazards. The acidic pH in many plastic bottled waters causes the plastic to leach into the water, particularly if the bottles have been sitting in a warehouse for a long time.

It's important to drink waters that have a pH of 7.0 and higher, and preferably housed in glass bottles or safer plastics such as PET or PETE. Here are some excellent spring and artesian water choices: Mountain Valley Spring Water, VOSS Artesian Water, Fiji Natural Artesian Spring Water, Trinity Spring Water....

Bet You Didn?t Know . . . All Waters Are Not Created Equal
Glasses > Bet You Didn?t Know . . . All Waters Are Not Created Equal

Buyer's Guide to Shooting Glasses

Shooters of all kinds require eye protection, whether at the range or in the field. Facing the possibility of ricochets, flying objects (ejecting shells, etc), wind, sun and dust, it only makes sense to use a good pair of shooting glasses for eye protection. But when searching for a quality pair of shooting glasses, what factors do you look at to help make an educated purchase?We'd recommend evaluating the following components when making your decision:?Lens ?Lens Impact Resistance ?Lens UV protection ?Lens Coverage Let's look at each one in more detail:- Lens: A very important feature to consider. For shooting applications, Polycarbonate is the best lens material available on the market today. Polycarbonate is a type of LEXAN? from G.E., the same material used for bullet resistant glass in autos.

- Lens Impact Resistance: Lens color, fit, etc. are all important, but they become a mute point if the lens won't properly protect the eye.
Look for lens with high impact resistance...

Buyer's Guide to Shooting Glasses
Glasses > Buyer's Guide to Shooting Glasses

Free Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a good substitute for bulky glasses that keep getting misplaced all the time. Even though there has been a dramatic evolution of newer, classier, and more stylish glasses frames, more and more patients are leaning towards using contacts lenses presently.

Contact lenses are expensive compared to regular glasses that are sometimes a onetime investment. Disposable contacts or even permanent contacts need to be changed either once day or a week or in matter of months. Also, they must be cleaned daily with solution and the eyes must be protected against dryness by using eye drops.

All these as a package are costlier than glasses.

Many hospitals and charity organizations arrange free eye check up campaigns where they give out free contact lenses instead of glasses. Some of them provide free check ups that are excluded from the lenses price. Also, some opticians give the offer of free lenses with a paid check up, which can help in reducing...

Free Contact Lenses
Glasses > Free Contact Lenses

Luau Party Supplies

Luau party supplies can be found at most party stores and on the Internet. But if you don't find what you need here, you can look around flea markets and curio stores to find tropical motifs.

For planning and decorating, you will need to buy invitation cards (if you are not making your own), placement cards, straws, Hawaiian music, leis, candles. Tiki torches, Hula dolls, paper lanterns, large candles, bamboo baskets, plastic flowers and fresh flowers will give an authentic atmosphere. You can buy shells, fruits, sunglasses, decorative hair combs, fruit and large stuffed parrots and flamingos too.

For costumes, think about using coconut shells to make bras and straw to make skirts. It is fun to get the guys wear these to and do the Hula!

Most gift shops stock Luau decorations, invitations, tableware, Hawaiian gifts, and more. Plates and glasses with tropical patterns and color will add to the ambience. Tropical straws, stirrers and tiny umbrellas to...

Luau Party Supplies
Glasses > Luau Party Supplies

Hide Your Need For Reading Correction With No Line Bifocal Reading Glasses

The mention of bifocal glasses can cause one to build a mental picture of an old person, possibly Grandma or Grandpa.
The idea that you need bifocals may seem damaging to your ego - you might feel like you are getting old and everyone will notice. This is just not true anymore. New innovations in lenses have produced a new no-line bifocal.Reading glasses often become a must for those over forty due to a natural condition called presbyopia.
Presbyopia is a hardening of the eyes lens that decreases its flexibility, causing problems with nearsightedness.

People who do not wear glasses for other vision issues will correct the problem by buying a pair of reading glasses.
If you wear glasses normally your doctor will suggest adding a bifocal to your normal lens.
Bifocal lenses have a small section of the lens made in a different prescription specifically for your reading needs.
The older style of bifocal lenses had a visible line separating...

Hide Your Need For Reading Correction With No Line Bifocal Reading Glasses
Glasses > Hide Your Need For Reading Correction With No Line Bifocal Reading Glasses

A New Mattress for Better Sleep

Many people complain that they always feel too tired despite getting plenty of sleep; little do they know that the mattress they are sleeping on could well be the culprit. Over time your mattress will become worn which can cause spring to losing their support and the bed becoming saggy and lumpy in places. Not only can this mean that you will not sleep properly but can also cause health problems as a result of pressure points. This can lead to stiffness of you neck, back, hips or shoulders. And...

mattress How long have prescription eyeglasses been around&#63; A New Mattress for Better Sleep mattress How long have prescription eyeglasses been around&#63; A New Mattress for Better Sleep
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