Almost every person in this world wear sunglasses daily, and yet, there are just a few who know how, when, and by whom they got invented. So, let’s find that out about the history of sunglasses. 

The history of sunglasses is an interesting topic. Sunglasses are one of the most ancient forms of eye protection used in human history, with evidence suggesting that sunglasses dates from ancient Inuits, but those sunglasses haven’t had anything in common with today’s sunglasses.

Sunglasses Invented, Ultraviolet Light Suspended

Today if you walk into a drugstore or search online, you'll be able to find hundreds of different styles and various brands to choose from when it comes to sunglasses for men, women, children, and even prescription glasses.

Sunglasses are very popular and many people are wearing sunglasses all around the world because of their UV protection,  style, compactness, and many more reasons. But through history, they have come a long way, to become what they represent today. 

True history, they’ve made all the way from the walrus ivory through the polarized lens technology created to protect eyes from the sun’s rays. Through the simple smoked quartz glass to stylish Ray Ban branded aviator sunglasses.

But how sunglasses are invented? Who invented sunglasses? Who had the privilege of wearing sunglasses? Are the foster grant sunglasses first to be massively produced? 

Answers to this, and many more questions, you will find in this article. Get ready to find out everything you need to know about sunglasses history!

A Brief History Of Sunglasses

So, who invented sunglasses? As we said before, the history of sunglasses begins with ancient Inuits, but it was just walrus ivory with slots, which were there to enable them to see, but not to be blinded by the reflection on the sun in the snow. 

The next record of the sunglasses comes from the 12th century, chrome China, where sunglasses lens were made from smoky quartz, which was used to dim the light. But, in China, it was a very expensive piece of accessory and were worn only by wealthy people. 

The first sunglasses that were similar to today’s modern type sunglasses were invented in the 18th century. Those were the first sunglasses invented with tinted lenses. 

As the 20th century came, the development of sunglasses started to move rapidly. They became quite popular when movie stars began using them to protect their eyes from the bright studio lights.

 In 1929, Sam Foster started the massive production of sunglasses in America. This is the moment when the first pair of Foster Grant Sunglasses were introduced to the world.  

Not long after that Ray Ban introduced the first pair of, today well known, ray ban aviator sunglasses to the world. 

So today, we have all kinds of variations when it comes to this piece of accessories.  We have sunglass lenses specifically made just for sun rays protection,  aviator-style sunglasses, oversized sunglasses, with green lenses, darkened lenses, army air corps, crystal sunglasses, etc. Find out how sunglasses work.

The Inventor of Sunglasses

As inventing sunglasses came in ancient history, the inventor of the first sunglasses isn’t known. 

But for the inventor of the first modern type of sunglasses is taken James Ayscough, from England. He was an English optician, and his intention was to improve people’s sight by putting tinted lenses onto people’s eyes. 

How Sunglasses Were Invented?

Now that we know who invented sunglasses, and when, let’s see what were the reasons for inventing them. 

The Inuits

For the ancient Inuits, the intention was not to make something that will protect them directly from sunlight but to invent something that will protect them from the snow that was intruding their eyes and from sunlight reflection in the snow. 

So they started covering their faces with walrus ivory to protect their eyes.  But as they needed to see what’s happening in front of them, they started cutting long and narrow slots into walrus ivory.

China

The Chinese version of sunglasses also wasn’t meant to protect from the sun in the first place, but it was an additional benefit. Chinese people started making sunglasses from smoked quartz because they wanted to cover their faces so other people couldn’t see their facial expressions. They were often used by police officers back then.

James Ayscough

When James Ayscough began experimenting with sunglasses tinted lenses, he did that, not to protect eyes from UV rays, but to improve people’s sight. 

Modern Sunglasses

The modern type sunglasses, the ones that are meant only to protect from sunlight and UV rays, were invented in the early 20th century. And started to expand on the global level when Sam Foster, the head of the foster grant sunglasses, began selling sunglasses for a broad masses of people. Foster Grants sunglasses were first on the sunglasses market that were made just for the protection from UV rays, blue light, and glare.

How Were Polarized Sunglasses Got Invented?

Now, who invented sunglasses with polarized lenses? This goes back to the year 1929 when Edwin H Land developed the first pair of sunglasses with a polarizing filter. But the first polarized sunglasses have to wait 6 more years for him to finish negotiating with the American Optical Company, and in the year 1935, the first sunglasses with polarized lens technology created the first sunglasses with polarized lenses. 

Because of the special filter blocks, that reduce glare, special colored lenses, and enchase visual clarity, new polarized lens technology is very popular with sportsmen. The secret is that they are reducing glare from reflecting off flat surfaces like sand, snow, or water, but also have UV protection and blue light protection. 

Today, polarized glasses are most commonly made for sportswear, like snow goggles that protect from snow blindness.

Who Invented Aviator Sunglasses?

The invention of Foster Grant sunglasses was followed by Ray Ban, the first company to make aviator sunglasses. They decided to develop sunglasses lens specifically to safeguard pilots' eyes from glare, and harmful reflected rays. At that time, Ray Ban used polarized lens technology by Edwin H Land, to protect pilots’ eyes from the sun’s rays.

Ray Ban aviator sunglasses were, at first, only made for world war ii pilots, and shortly after that, they were available for the public too. Ray Ban anti glare aviator glasses acquired great popularity, General Douglas MacArthur have worn them in public for the first time. And that is the story of how these iconic sunglasses are made.

To Sum Things Up

Even if today’s world can’t decide on who invented sunglasses, there are a few things on which we all have to admit we agree. 

Today, the main reason to wear sunglasses is to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. But it wasn’t always that way. In history, reasons for wearing sunglasses were different. 

Ancient Inuits wore sunglasses to protect their eyes from the snow and reflection glare. In China, people wore sunglasses made of smoky quartz to hide their facial expressions. 

In the 18th century, sunglasses were made to improving eyesight, as James Ayscough began experimenting with sunglass lens specifically colored to improve people’s sight. 

And modern sunglasses were introduced to the world by Sam Foster and Foster Grant sunglasses in 1929 and after world war ii we got Ray Ban anti glare aviator glasses that used technology by Edwin H Land, but they were first made for the army air corps.

And today, the new polarized lens technology is one of the most popular, especially for bright studio lights and sportsmen, because sunglass lens has a special way to fight against harmful UV rays, and glare. 

Most Commonly Asked Questions

Did sunglasses exist in 1858?

The modern sunglasses, that are meant just to protect you from the sun’s rays, NO. Those are invented in the early 20th century. However, in 1858 existed forerunner of modern sunglasses, invented by James Ayscough, were invented to improve vision.

Which sunglass brand is best?

The best sunglass brand is Ray Ban.

The glasses brand is known for its durability and has been worn by almost every cool celebrity in the world from John Lennon to Audrey Hepburn. Ray Ban is so popular because it is a durable, dependable pair of glasses that don’t just look good but they last a long time. 

The confirmation of that is they were first made for the army air corps and they used polarized lens technology by Edwin H Land. The brand has a way of longstanding appeal and that’s because of the product that they give. The material is light and they have a pair of styles that anyone would look good in.

Why are sunglasses black?

On the one hand, it is just aesthetics, but on the other hand, it does have a practical application too.

Let’s go into more detail on the aesthetics side. By just simply wearing black sunglasses, you are more of a mysterious person. They are more of an accessory rather than just being a simple piece of the sunglass. This gives you a chance to make an impression on people who might not even know you. It is able to draw attention to your look.

On the practical side, having black sunglasses are less of a strain on the eyes. This is because of how light is reflected on all of the different wavelengths of light. Since black is the absence of all colors, there is no reflected light, stops blue light, and glare. So, having darkened lenses can protect you from harmful UV rays. 

Did cowboys wear sunglasses?

The true answer to the question “Did cowboys wear sunglasses?” probably resides in the fact that like many other materials, the production of plastic was in its infancy when the cowboy era started in the 1850s. Thus, goods like sunglasses would have been something that was only afforded by the elite of the era. This could be why many depictions of cowboys in films and paintings seem to be wearing sunglasses despite them having never existed in the 1800s.

Are sunglasses bad for your eyes?

The short answer: no. Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. They help reduce glare and restore your eyes’ sensitivity to light. But not all sunglasses are the same, and there are some factors to keep in mind when buying sunglasses for your eyes.

When purchasing, pay attention to how many suns rays your sunglasses are able to protect you from.

When was James Ayscough born?

James Ayscough was born in 1720. He was an English optician, and in 1758, he invented sunglasses that are meant to improve vision.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Olivia Poglianich          

Content Strategist

Olivia Poglianich is a nomadic brand strategist and copywriter in the ski and snowboard space who has worked with brands such as Visa, Disney and Grey Goose. Her writing has taken her all over the world, from a Serbian music festival to a Malaysian art and culture event. Olivia is a graduate of Cornell University and is often writing or reading about travel, hospitality, the start-up ecosystem or career coaching. Her latest interests are at the intersection of web3 and communal living, both on and offline.