Fun Facts about Sunglasses
Have you ever wondered why we wear sunglasses and where they have originated from? This guide will give you some surprising insights into the history of sunglasses, their different types and styles, and the science behind them. Get ready to learn some fun facts about sunglasses!
- The history of sunglasses dates back to China in the 12th Century.
Sunglasses were first mentioned in writings from China in the 12th century, when they were referred to as ‘smoke-colored glasses'. The ancient Chinese used designs similar to that of contemporary sunglasses to protect their eyes during outdoor activities.
It is also believed that these sunglasses served an aesthetic purpose as well, and were used by Chinese judges as early as the 12th century.
They wore glasses to hide their thoughts and feeling about cases so they could lead a fair court and not sway anyone - including jurors.
2. The First Sunglasses to Block UV Rays Were Developed in 1936.
3. Famous designer Edwin H. Land invented polarized sunglasses
Edwin H. Land was an American scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur, who is best known for his invention of the polaroid filter. He applied his knowledge of polarized light to develop sunglasses that could block out glare caused from sunlight reflecting off of the surfaces like snow, water and automobiles. The invention revolutionized eyewear and in 1936 he founded 'Polaroid Corporation', a company which specialized in producing polarized sunglasses. The company became a sensation amongst pilots, fishermen, skiers and boaters due to its ability to differentiate between true objects beneath the surface and false reflections on the surface.
4. Aviator-style sunglasses became popular with their debut in 1935
In 1935, Ray-Ban introduced the 'Aviator' style of sunglasses and it quickly became a popular style amongst military personnel due to its ability to block out up to 95% of visible light.
This style rose in popularity during World War II and when some Hollywood stars, such as James Dean and Audrey Hepburn, began wearing them on screen they became synonymous with coolness. Aviators are still popular today and can be seen anywhere from suburban streets to high-end fashion magazines!
At the moment - the current aviator craze is the acetate aviator style sunglasses with color lenses.
5. Guinness World Records
In Spain, 6774 people joined together in Valladolid at the Coordinadora in Valladolid on the 6th September 2015 as the largest ever amount of people to wear sunglasses in the dark for a total of five minutes at 10pm.
They beat the previous attempt made in 2012 on the 6th July where 1642 people in Chicago, Illinois wore sunglasses in the dark - and they achieved recognition with this famous accolade.
The Guinness world record for the largest amount of sunglasses goes to Lori Ann Keenan from Vancouver in Canada who has 2174 pairs of sunglasses.
Lori has always loved notoriety. She is an author and a successful business woman and wanted to have her name in the Guinness World Records. She didn't want to do something 'unsavory' to have to do this though. So she set her sights on finding an achievable challenge.
She collected mainly inexpensive sunglasses that were individual and unique.
According to CBC it took her two and a half years to get hold of so many sunglasses
© CBC NEWS picture of Lori Ann Keenan with her enormous sunglasses collection
6. Famous sunglasses worn in a horror movie
People are still searching online (260 people per month) what Freddy Krueger's sunglasses were. For the record they were Ray-ban Wayfarer sunglasses.
Freddy Krueger Films were called 'Nightmare on Elm Street' and were about an evil, sadistic killer who murdered young children. The parents were said to have exacted their revenge by burning him to death in fire. However, his spirit comes back to kill even more young people.
The sunglasses act as a camouflage to his horrifying appearance, characterized by the burns made by the aforementioned fire. The sunglasses may act to lull people to him and give a false sense of security.
7. Have you ever wondered why Johnny Depp always wears tinted eyeglasses?
Well - you are about to find out. Yes he looks cool as school, but this is not the full story.
Johnny Depp has a condition called anisocoria, in which the two pupils of his eyes vary in size and amount of light they can take in. This asymmetry creates a temporary short-sightedness, resulting in near-sightedness and obvious differences between his left and right eyes. The contrasting sizes among his pupils also leads to ghosting and other visual irregularities when looking at images with bright colors or contrasts. He must also regularly adjust his vision depending on the intensity of the lighting.
The best facts about sunglasses, are the ones that are the most unbelievable..
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