Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses
Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses Both eyeglasses and contact lenses are devices that correct or improve refractive errors in vision such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (“old sight”), and astigmatism (an irregular-shaped cornea that distorts vision) (The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine 1265). ... Nowadays, eyeglasses and contact lenses are easily obtained yet preferably through a doctor’s prescription. Both eyeglasses and contact lenses are made of glass or plastic. Eyeglasses (sometimes called spectacles) consist of a lenses mounted in a frame to hold them in position before the eyes, sitting mostly on the ears and nose. No one is quite sure who invented eyeglasses, but the first written mention of it dates back to 1268 to English scientist Roger Bacon. However, at that time people looked at eyeglasses as if they were black magic – piece of glass or crystal, placed in front of the eye that could suddenly make things look larger and clearer (Silverstein 27). Another Italian, Salvino d’Armato, is also linked to the invention of eyeglasses. ... In contrast to eyeglasses, contact lenses are thin, plastic lenses that are shaped to fit the eye and are worn between eye and eyelid. The idea of contact lenses dates all the way back to the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci, who dreamed of them in 1508. ... Eugen Fick and French eyeglass maker Edouard Kalt, independently invented two different kinds of contact lenses (Silverstein 28).