Glasses
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
"It is demonstrable, said he, that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for as all things have been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end. Observe, for instance, the nose is formed for spectacles, therefore we wear spectacles. The legs are visibly designed for stockings, accordingly we wear stockings." --Dr. Pangloss in Candide, tr. Tobias Smollett |
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Glasses, also known as eyeglasses (formal) or spectacles, are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. They are normally used for vision correction or eye protection. Safety glasses are a kind of eye protection against flying debris or against visible and near visible light or radiation. Sunglasses allow better vision in bright daylight, and may protect against damage from high levels of ultraviolet light. Other types of glasses may be used for viewing visual information (such as stereoscopy) or simply just for aesthetic or fashion purposes.
Historical types of glasses include the pince-nez, monocle, lorgnette, and scissor or scissors-glasses.
Modern glasses are typically supported by pads on the bridge of the nose and by temple arms (sides) placed over the ears. CR-39 lenses are the most common plastic lenses due to their low weight, high scratch resistance, low dispersion, and low transparency to ultraviolet and infrared radiation.Template:Citation needed Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses are the lightest and most shatter-resistant, making them the best for impact protection.
Though modern frames can be both lightweight and flexible, and new lens materials and optical coatings are resistant to breakage and scratching, glasses can pose problems during rigorous sports. Scraping, fracturing, or breakage of the lenses can require repair by a Licensed Optician professional.
See also
- Adjustable-focus eyeglasses
- Contacts
- Corrective lens
- Eye examination
- Eyeglass prescription
- Geek chic
- History of optics
- Photochromic lens
- Stereoscopy
- Sunglasses
- X-ray vision
- Monocle