W hat are sunglasses?

Sunglasses are a kind of protective eyewear used to block bright sun and protect the eyes from other harmful particles in the air. They can have prescriptions to help correct vision but are more common as a fashion accessory. Sunglasses are also called shades, sun-shades, sunnies and sun-spectcales.

The history of sunglasses

The first tinted glasses were worn in China. They were tinted with smoke and used specifically during court cases to hide a judge's expression. The remains of tinted glasses used for this purpose date from around 1430. James Ayscough experimented with tinted lenses during the 18th century, but he was looking for ways of correcting vision with his tinted glass. The first pair of glasses specifically made to protect the eyes from the sun were sold in Atlantic City, New Jersey by Sam Foster in 1929. Within a short amount of time sunglasses were in wide demand.

Now there are as many different styles of sunglasses as there are regular prescriptive eye glasses, if not more so because sunglasses have proven to be a popular accessory for just about everyone.

Iconic Styles

There are several particularly popular styles of sunglasses. Some of the most lasting styles were made popular by movie stars, politicians and other celebrities. Cont...