Spectacles are defined as a vision correction device mechanically adjusted to human eyes. Spectacles and eyeglasses are terms interchangeably used by people, while spectacles are the term mostly used by optometrists. Spectacles are usually shortened as specs, some even invent a word ‘spex” to refer to “spectacles”.
The evolution of spex went through a long and vague history, and no single person can be credited the invention of spectacles. The earliest records about spex can be traced back to 2000 years ago when people used globe of water to magnify the viewing objects. About 1000 years ago, reading stone was invented, which was the segments of glass sphere that could be put on the books to see words better.
Later around 13th century, Italian Venetian glass makers put the glass into a kind of frame so that he spex could be held on the eye. At that time, the spex was intended to use by one eye. Later people fit two glasses into frames, making the spex a single unit so that people see through two eyes with the aid of spectacles.
The first manuscript about spectacles glasses was found around 1289 by a Popozo family member. In the Middle ages, wearing spectacles glasses was considered a sign a knowledge and intelligent learning. From some artistic paintings of that era showed figures wearing spex, or the spex was included in the art portrait. That revealed the spec became popular then.
The modern spectacles glasses with arms on the ears were invented by a London optician Edward Scarlett. This is the beginning of today’s diversified spex industry.