World Sight Day - Sight Test

World Sight Day is a world wide event that aims to bring attention to blindness and vision impairment. It happens in the second week of October every year. Although it is not currently happening it inspired me to get my eyes tested (thankfully they alright and I don't even need reading glasses as of yet). The optician highlighted that with age people should get their eyes tested more regularly - at least every two years. He also warned that the incorrect lens strength can do more damage than good to the eyes, but also that it is natural for eyes to loose their 'seeing powers' with age.

It is clear that Glasses play a vital part to a lot of people's daily lives, whether they opt for traditional reading glasses or contact lenses. In my project I will be using glasses to illustrate, demonstrate and visualise the decline of sight and different stages of sight loss.
Here is brief time line of the development of reading glasses:

1. 1000 AD

   1000 AD - a well-worn pair of reading glasses over those who appear with. MacDailyNews features news, links, tips, and opinions. Earth911's Quick Vote poll asked readers to complete this statement: "The one thing Glasses date back as far as reading stones, made in Italy in 1000 AD. From The Seattle Computer Reader Reading Glasses styleglasses.healthserver.info/the-seattle ...

2. 1260

   1260 - While the origin of eyeglasses is relatively unknown and widely debated, reading glasses first appeared on the scene in Italy around 1260 CE They were initially designed to help the elderly in their quest for reading. The reading glasses were insanely popular ...While the origin of eyeglasses is relatively unknown and widely debated, reading glasses first appeared on the scene in Italy around 1260 CE They were initially designed to help the elderly in their quest for reading. The reading glasses were insanely popular very quickly but there was one drawback - arms had not been invented for the prescription eyeglasses and the frames kept slipping down the nose! The Spanish tried to remedy this by tying ribbons to the frames and then ... Show moreShow less From blog.first-wholesale.com - Related web pages blog.first-wholesale.com/

3. 1284

   1284 - Looking into the history of wholesale reading glasses we will find that even though the concept of glasses was present as far behind as the presence of the roman emperor Nero, in was in 1284 in Italy that Salvino D' Armate came up with the first wearable eye ...Wholesale reading glasses also help protect the eyes from the harmful computer radiation as well as harmful ultraviolet radiation when you are reading in sunlight. Looking into the history of wholesale reading glasses we will find that even though the concept of glasses was present as far behind as the presence of the roman emperor Nero, in was in 1284 in Italy that Salvino D' Armate came up with the first wearable eye glass, which ... More About: Reading , Make , Pleasure ... Show moreShow less From Wholesale Sunglasses blog - Blog Toplist - Related web pages 96.30.19.33/shopping-fashion/blogdetails-1937 ...

4. 1891

   Feb 19, 1891 - as to the rate and amount of duties chargeable on certain chains, opera glasses, opera-glass cases, and reading glasses, imported per Oascogne, February 19,1891. Opinion by Tiohenor, General Appraiser. The merchandise to which this protest relates is desoribed ...In the matter of the protest, 03776, of Otto Youhg & Co., against the decision of the collector of customs at Chicago, 111., as to the rate and amount of duties chargeable on certain chains, opera glasses, opera-glass cases, and reading glasses, imported per Oascogne, February 19,1891. Opinion by Tiohenor, General Appraiser. The merchandise to which this protest relates is desoribed by the appraiser. Show moreShow less From United States Congressional serial set - Related web pages books.google.com/books?id=24o3AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA4 ...

5. 1906

   Apr 23, 1906 - Mrs. P., age 50, seen April 23, 1906. She complained of some blurring before the right eye in distant vision, which at times was worse. Duration of symptom was several weeks. Near vision was undisturbed with reading glasses, her distant vision, however ...Case VII is one of interest to the ophthalmologist on account of the family history. Mrs. P., age 50, seen April 23, 1906. She complained of some blurring before the right eye in distant vision, which at times was worse. Duration of symptom was several weeks. Near vision was undisturbed with reading glasses, her distant vision, however, remained slightly indistinct even with correction. The vision OD with +2 DS was normal. Personal history was negative. Show moreShow less From Annals of ophthalmology - Related web pages books.google.com/books?id=ffgAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA67 ...

6. 1994

   1994 - We offer trading services for all kinds of eyewear, including sunglasses, reading glasses and optical glasses. Established in 1994, we sell more than US$7 million worth of Ben-Ny Industries goods annually. Our engineers use auto-CAD to design your glasses.We offer trading services for all kinds of eyewear, including sunglasses, reading glasses and optical glasses. Established in 1994, we sell more than US$7 million worth of Ben-Ny Industries goods annually. Our engineers use auto-CAD to design your glasses. You can also choose from any of the 50 to 60 new items that are available each month. More than 20 R&D staff are working to handle your projects. A decade of working with overseas buyers on custom projects means that ... Show moreShow less From List of Buyer Companies in China(Page 30) - Related web pages mt.list-of-companies.org/China/Keywords/Buyer ...

7. 1996

   May 1996 - Clinton's eyesight, aided by reading glasses, was unchanged from his last physical in May 1996. Clinton has been complaining for years about his hearing. On Friday, doctors at Bethesda Naval Hospital decided his hearing was damaged enough for him to be fitted ...Clinton's eyesight, aided by reading glasses, was unchanged from his last physical in May 1996. Clinton has been complaining for years about his hearing. On Friday, doctors at Bethesda Naval Hospital decided his hearing was damaged enough for him to be fitted with hearing aids in both ears. For what doctors termed a high-frequency hearing loss, Clinton was fitted for the type of hearing aid that can be easily placed fully inside his hearing canal, hardly noticeable to other ... Show moreShow less From Clinton healthy but needs hearing aids - Related web pages pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/16862926 ...

8. 2003

   2003 - I had laser surgery in 2003. I could not see anything without glasses before my surgery. I still have 20/20 vision, but was told that due to the natural aging of my eyes I would probably need reading glasses around 40. Available Services Upcoming. From How long does laser eye surgery last for? - Related web pages wave-lasik.com/how-long-does-laser-eye-surgery ...

9. 2004

   Mar 2004 - In March 2004, they were contracted by Scojo Foundation (now VisionSpring) to work in El Salvador to help them find an effective way to distribute reading glasses to low income villagers. It is estimated that over 90 percent of people over 40 years old will ...Upon finishing their Peace Corps responsibilities, Greg and George stayed in Guatemala and formed New Development Solutions as a means to provide consulting services to USAID, Chemonics, Soros Foundation and the like. In March 2004, they were contracted by Scojo Foundation (now VisionSpring) to work in El Salvador to help them find an effective way to distribute reading glasses to low income villagers. It is estimated that over 90 percent of people over 40 years old ... Show moreShow less From MicroConsignment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Related web pages en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroConsignment

10. 2010

    Oct 25, 2010 - ewtewt posted on 10/25/2010 @ 1:07:42 am. As the fast development of eyewear industry, there are different kinds of glasses catering for various needs and flavors. People have their choices when they want to wear glasses as fashion accessories. Online cheap ...ewtewt posted on 10/25/2010 @ 1:07:42 am. As the fast development of eyewear industry, there are different kinds of glasses catering for various needs and flavors. People have their choices when they want to wear glasses as fashion accessories. Online cheap eyeglasses enable customers to save great expense. Firmoo.com is the right place for you to buy eyeglasses and sunglasses, for there is a huge variety for your choice, like cheap eyeglass frames，plastic glasses ... Show moreShow less From Madison Drink Specials - Blog - Tom Wilson - Related web pages tommwilson.com/blog/madison-drink-specials.php

Some early reading glasses/devices:

                                                                      Medieval Reading Stone

                                                              Tommaso di Modena Painting, 14th C.

                                                                 Eyeglasses, circa 18th centuy 


Today's Reading Glasses:

Various Sight Test Steps:

                                                          

A brief history of contact lenses:

1508   Leonardo da Vinci illustrates the concept of contact lenses
1823   British astronomer Sir John Herschel conceptualizes practical lens design
1887   First contact lens manufactured from glass, and fitted to cover the entire eye
1939   Contact lenses first made from plastic
1948   Plastic contact lenses designed to cover only the eye's cornea
1971   Introduction of soft contact lenses
1978   Introduction of GP contact lenses
1981   FDA approval of new soft contact lenses for extended (overnight) wear
1986   Overnight wear of GP contact lenses becomes available
1987   Introduction of disposable soft contact lenses
1987   GP contacts available in next-generation fluorosilicone acrylate materials
1996   Introduction of one-day disposable soft lenses
2002   Silicone-hydrogel contact lenses first marketed
2002   Overnight orthokeratology approved by FDA
2010   Custom-manufactured silicone-hydrogel lenses become available


(http://www.contactlenses.org/timeline.htm)