Lenses, Myopia, and Hyperopia

Myopia is the ability to see nearby objects clearly, while distant objects appear blurry. The cause is that the eyeball is longer than normal from front to back, or the cornea is excessively curved, causing the image to form in front of the retina rather than directly on it. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is the relative ability to see distant objects clearly, while nearby objects appear blurry, especially when reading or performing tasks that require close focus. The optical cause is that the eyeball is shorter than normal, or the cornea is less curved than necessary, causing the image to theoretically form behind the retina rather than on it.

The first time I felt the need for prescription glasses was about fifty years ago. I experienced a wonderful sensation when I wore them; everything became clearer, more beautiful, and more defined. But what is the history of prescription eyewear? I used to think it was a modern industry, but it turns out that in a place near Pisa, Italy, 740 years ago (in 1287), an unknown craftsman mounted two glass lenses onto a frame likely made of wood or bone, thereby creating the first pair of prescription glasses. This discovery is relatively recent in the context of human history.

So how did people with vision impairments live before the existence of specialized lens shops? Humans have long used flat convex lenses made of glass and rock crystal, dating back to the Bronze Age. The most famous example is the Nimrud lens, of Assyrian origin. The ancient Egyptians also possessed vision-enhancing tools dating back 5,300 years. Ancient artifacts indicate that the Chinese were familiar with magnifying lenses. The Arab optics scholar Ibn al-Haytham played a significant role, detailing his findings extensively in his famous book, “The Book of Optics.”

But how did Italy become a global powerhouse in eyewear manufacturing, especially for luxury brands? This is primarily due to the presence of advanced precision industries there, including glassmaking. However, true production did not begin until the late 19th century. The key secret lies in its origin in a relatively small region around Belluno and Cadore, where an integrated network of factories, workshops, and suppliers emerged: one for metal frames, another for hinges, a third for coating and polishing, a fourth for molds, a fifth for prescription lenses, and a sixth for prototypes. Italy also succeeded in linking eyewear with fashion. Its most brilliant move was making glasses part of luxury global brands alongside fashion houses, which significantly increased their value by transforming them from optical products into expensive goods made in Italy.

As for the best countries and companies manufacturing prescription lenses and contact lenses, they are located in Germany and Japan. Among them, Zeiss is the most prominent name in the world of optics. Today, it operates as a global production network, with its largest facility in Guangzhou, China, which has become one of the company’s advanced production sites. There are also Japanese HOYA lenses, which have several global facilities, and Nikon lenses, which are used for vision correction in cameras, close-up optics, and laboratory microscopes.

When buying reading glasses, it is important to focus on the quality of the lenses rather than the frame. The lenses should be made in either Germany or Japan. As for “ready-made reading glasses” sold in pharmacies, they usually do not bear any brand name. They are typically produced in large quantities with standard prescriptions and are not individually customized for each eye. Therefore, in cheap reading glasses, the material, optical quality, and coatings are sometimes more important than the brand name.

Ahmed Al-Sarraff