It may surprise you to discover that the purpose of ancient sunglasses was not to protect people’s eyes. Sunglasses date back to ancient China and Rome. Reports suggest that the Roman emperor Nero enjoyed watching gladiator fights through polished gems. In China, sunglasses were used in the twelfth century, perhaps earlier. Flat panes of smoky quartz were used as lenses in the first sunglasses. These did not correct vision, or protect from harmful UV rays, but did reduce glare. Judges in China used the smoky quartz glasses to obscure their facial expressions when they interrogated witnesses.

Sunglasses did not change again until about the eighteenth century, when the work of James Ayscough advanced them. Ayscough experimented with tinted lenses in spectacles. Ayscough was not interested in protecting eyes from the sun. He thought they could correct certain disorders.

Sunglasses again changed when Sam Foster introduced them to America in 1929. These ones were finally designed to protect people’s eyes from the sun. Fittingly, foster sold his sunglasses on the beaches of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Woolworth stores along the beach sold his wares.

In 1936, Edwin H. Land began using his patented Polaroid filter when making sunglasses, creating the first polarized lenses. Celebrities also began to wear sunglasses. They started to become not only a way to protect against sun glare, but also a fashion statement. They soon became a cultural phenomenon, and some people wore them even when it wasn’t sunny, or when they were indoors.

The technology continues to advance. UV protection is the main component. With numerous tints available for sunglasses, and many design options, the there are no limits to the personality customization available. Prescription glasses have also been given tints that only work when the sun’s rays hit the lens. In 2004, Oakley developed a brand of sunglasses that had a built-in music player.