Why We Wear Sunglasses
Sunlight makes life on Earth possible. But bright sun hurts human eyes. Today, millions of people wear sunglasses every day. When did this start? And why?
Ancient China: The First Tint
Long ago, judges in ancient China wore special glasses. These glasses did not have glass lenses. They used flat pieces of smoky quartz.
The quartz had a dark color. Judges wore them inside courtrooms. Why? Not to block the sun. They wore them to hide their eyes. People could not see where the judge looked. This kept trials secret and fair.
The Arctic: Bone Goggles
Far to the north, Inuit people faced a different problem. Snow reflects bright sunlight. This glare hurts the eyes. It can cause snow blindness.
To fix this, hunters carved goggles from walrus bone, wood, or antler. They cut very small, narrow horizontal slits in the front.
These bone goggles let in only a tiny amount of light. They worked very well. They protected hunters on bright snow days.
20th Century: Movie Stars and Pilots
Modern sunglasses arrived much later. In the 1920s, movie stars in Hollywood started wearing dark glasses. They wanted to hide from fans and bright studio lights.
Soon, everyday people copied them. Sunglasses became a fashion item.
In 1936, scientist Edwin H. Land invented the polarizing filter. This new lens blocked glare from water and roads.
The US Army Air Corps asked for better glasses for pilots. In 1937, a company made special green glass lenses to stop glare in the sky. People called them "Aviators."
Why We Wear Them Today
Today, we wear sunglasses for two main reasons.
First, they protect health. The sun sends out ultraviolet (UV) rays. These rays harm our eyes over time. Good sunglasses block UV rays.
Second, they give comfort. Bright light causes squinting and headaches. Dark lenses make outside vision relaxing and clear.
Next time you put on your sunglasses, remember ancient judges, arctic hunters, and early pilots. You share a very old habit of protecting your sight.
What color are your favorite sunglasses?