Optometry historians observe 23rd February, 1305 as the day eyeglasses were perhaps first discussed in public, when friar Giordano de Rivalto stood at the pulpit and declared that he had personally met the man who invented spectacles... Except, frustratingly, he forgot to mention the bloke’s name.

One popular contender for the title is Salvino D'Armati, a Florentine said to have created the first glasses in 1284. The only problem? His story turned out to be a hoax—his supposed 1317 epitaph even used the word "inventor," which didn’t exist yet. But the connection to the church is legit, as the earliest wearers of glasses were usually monks, because they were the nation’s biggest bookworms.

In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly romp through a brief history of optometry, learning how ear hooks first came to the fore; explaining how Seneca used early lenses to assist his reading; and revealing Benjamin Franklin’s surprising role in the world of bifocals…

Further Reading:

• ‘Through the looking glass’ (British Library, 2019): https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2019/02/medieval-spectacles.html

• ‘The history of spectacles’ (College of Optometrists): https://www.college-optometrists.org/the-british-optical-association-museum/the-history-of-spectacles

• ‘Why so many people need glasses now’ (Vox, 2023):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAkFtka3UFw

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The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.

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