Glasses （eyewear, eyeglasses，spectacles, optical frames, sunglasses）are one of the most common items in our daily lives, they can improve your vision, protect your eyes, or be used for decoration. Glasses are composed of lenses and frames.

Below is a pair of acetate optical frames, which can be inlaid with prescription lenses to protect vision.

 

According to the use of glasses, it can be divided into optical glasses, farsighted glasses, reading glasses and astigmatic glasses, plain glasses, computer goggles, goggles, swimming goggles, night vision goggles, goggles, sunglasses, etc. Special glasses are also available for viewing 3D stereoscopic images or virtual reality images.

The picture below is a pair of metal sunglasses, which can decorate your appearance and protect your eyes.

 

According to the production materials of glasses, there are acetate glasses, metal glasses, titanium glasses,  buffalo horn glasses and wood glasses made of natural materials. Below is a pair of horn glasses.

 

The history of glasses

Roger Bacon first recorded a lens for optical purposes in 1268. The earliest glasses appeared in Italy and were introduced by Alessandro di Spina of Florence. The earliest portrait with glasses, 《Hugh of Provence》, was painted by Tommaso da Modena in 1352.

 

American inventor Benjamin Franklin, who suffered from nearsightedness and farsightedness, invented glasses for both distance and nearsightedness in 1784; in 1825, British astronomer George Alley invented glasses that could correct astigmatism. Glasses appeared in China in the middle of the Ming Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, Western glasses were introduced to China through the Western Regions or Southeast Asia.

Structure of glasses

The current structure of glasses is divided into two parts: frames and lenses. The details are as follows:

 

Frames: The assembly position of the lens, two ring-shaped structures.

Lenses: vary according to the wearer's needs and are usually clear.

Bridge: the part that connects the two frames.

Nose pads: two pieces of spacers that support the nose.

End piece: The part on both sides of the frames that connects the temples.

Hinge: Connects the metal fittings of the frames and the temples. The temples can be opened and closed flexibly.

Temples: Used to hang glasses on the face with the legs between the ears.

Temple tips: refers to a cover installed at the end of the metal temple, usually made of acetate, plastic or rubber.

Below is a pair of acetate sunglasses with CR39 AR coating sun lenses:

 

Glasses frames:

Early spectacle frames were generally made of metal and tortoiseshell. With the development of spectacle technology, spectacles are now mainly made of plastic, acetate, metal, titanium, and some natural horns, wood, etc. Each material has its own characteristics. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of eyeglass frames made of different materials:

1. Plastic glasses: They are lighter and cheaper, but often have a single color. Below is a pair of plastic glasses, connected by metal hinges, without wire cores, and sprayed with color on the surface.

 

2. Acetate glasses: They are one of the most popular glasses at present, with rich colors and good surface gloss. However, due to the complicated manufacturing process and even many processes must be completed manually, the price is also relatively high. Below is a pair of material inflatable sunglasses, with a glossy surface, a rounded appearance, and equipped with gradient CR39 sunglasses.

 

3. Metal glasses: They are one of the most popular glasses currently. Metal frames are usually lightweight, sturdy and durable, with a stylish appearance and other advantages. Below is a pair of metal sunglasses with a classic aviator shape and tough nylon sunglasses.

 

4. Titanium glasses: Titanium is one of the toughest and lightest glasses. Titanium glasses have high strength, are not easily deformed, are not prone to metal allergies, and are light in weight. However, due to the difficulty of processing and the high cost of materials, the price of titanium glasses is also higher. Below is a pair of titanium optical frames, which are cut from titanium plates. The frames come in two colors, and the lenses are inlaid with myopic optical lenses.

 

5. Horns and wooden glasses. Horn and wood are both natural materials, so the surface of the glasses has natural texture and quality. Each pair is unique and is considered the most noble glasses. However, because natural materials are more precious and the processing technology is more complicated, the prices of horn glasses and wood glasses are also relatively high. Below is a pair of horn glasses with a natural and unique texture, titanium leaves and patterns on the temples.

 

6. Memory metal glasses: The extraordinary toughness of memory metal can quickly maintain its original shape no matter how it is bent or dropped, giving the glasses a longer life and increasing the wearer's comfort. The disadvantages are that the materials are expensive, the process is complicated, and the price of memory glasses is also relatively high. The eyebrows of the memory glasses below are made of acetate fiber, the frames and temples are made of stainless steel, and the bridge of the glasses is made of memory metal, which can continuously bend 90 degrees and return to its original shape.

 

According to the style, it can be divided into full-frame glasses, half-frame glasses and rimless glasses.

(1) Full-frame glasses: The whole frame covers the lens, which is characterized by firm, better protection of the lens, and can also cover a part of the lens thickness, which is the first choice for people with high myopia. Below is a pair of full-frame glasses, the lens is completely surrounded by the frames.

 

(2) Half-frame glasses: A very thin groove is opened around the lens, and a very thin nylon wire is used as the lower frame edge, so that the nylon wire is embedded in the groove, forming a bottomless frame style, which is light and unique, and relatively strong. Below is a pair of half-frame titanium frame glasses, which are fixed with a very thin nylon wire.

 

(3) Rimless glasses: This type of spectacle frame has no rims. The lenses, nose bridge and temples are directly connected by screws. Generally,need to punch holes on the lenses for processing. Rimless frames, it is more lightweight and beautiful, and does not block the eyes. It is suitable for various skin colors and face shapes. Below is a pair of rimless metal sunglasses, with the lenses fixed directly to the frame with screws.

 

Lenses for glasses:

Lenses were made of crystal in the early days, and later made of glass, and now popular are resin and nylon lenses, such as CR39 lenses, nylon lenses, PC lenses and so on. High-quality lenses have anti-ultraviolet function, bringing better protection to the eyes. Various coatings on the lens can play different roles, such as hard film plating, can make the surface of the lens harder, not easy to injure; Coated with a waterproof or oil-proof film to make the lens easy to clean; Coated with a non-reflective coating, it can bring convenience and better visual effect to the wearer.

 

Spectacle lenses generally need to be used to correct the vision problem. Simple myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia require spherical lenses, and those with astigmatism require cylindrical lenses. People with nearsightedness need concave lenses, while people with farsightedness and presbyopia need convex lenses.

To learn more about lenses, you can read our other articles related to lenses, where you will find detailed descriptions of each type of lens.

Accessories for glasses:

The main accessories of glasses include hinges, nose pads, etc. The hinges of glasses are like human hand joints, allowing both hands to move freely. The hinge allows the temples to open and close freely, making it easy to use and store.

 

Nose pads are also an important part of glasses. Glasses generally have a pair of nose pads, which are distributed on the left and right sides and are respectively stuck on the left and right sides of the nose. Therefore, the distance between the two nose pads is very important. It is most suitable to be able to stick on your own nose. the distance is easy to fall. In addition, the appearance and material of the nose pads are also very important. They must conform to the ergonomic shape. Common nose pad materials now include PVC and silicone. The nose pads of acetate glasses are generally integrated with the frame, while the nose pads of many titanium glasses are directly made of titanium and then coated with IP color. IP color has strong adhesion and is non-allergenic.

 

Glasses are everywhere in life, they help improve vision and make people extremely confident. If you want to know more about glasses, you can contact us at any time. BESTSEA is a professional glasses factory. The glasses we design and produce are sold all over the world, and we have established good cooperative relationships with many well-known brands. We hope that the glasses we make can make more people more confident and beautiful.