Sunglasses were invented in the early 11th century, way before big-name brands like Oakley, Luxottica and Ray-Ban existed. But their history is a bit more complex than you might think.
Keep reading as we detail all the twists and turns of the full history of sunglasses. Plus, we’ll answer exactly when sunglasses were invented, including your favorite styles.
When Were Sunglasses Invented?
The first sunglasses as we know them today were invented in China by Emperor Cheng of the Song Dynasty. These early frames were shaped like animals or characters, and they were designed to protect people’s eyes from the harsh sunlight while they worked outdoors. The earliest known form of eyewear dates back to the 10th century when Inuit people created goggle-like devices out of ivory.
But sunglasses weren’t considered a fashion accessory until much later – possibly even as late as the 1920s.
Today, sunglasses continue to be a popular fashion accessory, with many different styles and designs available for people of all ages. Whether you prefer classic round frames or more modern aviator styles, there.s something for everyone. And thanks to the latest innovations in lens technology, sunglasses offer not just style but also protection from harmful UV rays and glare.
Who Invented Sunglasses?
There is no single person who can be credited with the invention of sunglasses. Rather, they evolved over time as new technological and scientific discoveries were made and different materials became available.
However, the most commonly named person is British Optician James Ayscough, who supposedly invented them in 1752. Ayscough’s original sunglasses were made with double convex lenses that were tinted green or blue and were intended to reduce the amount of light that reached the user’s eyes.
The first prescription shades, on the other hand, were created with the help of advances in optometry. By fitting each lens to the individual user’s prescription, these early shades allowed people with vision impairments to enjoy the outdoors without having to squint or strain their eyes. Today, both regular and prescription sunglasses are widely available and are worn for both fashion and function. Thanks to James Ayscough’s innovation, we can now enjoy sunny days without worrying about damaging our eyesight.
For more, check out our complete history of sunglasses below.
The Complete History of Sunglasses
A Land Before Time (10th-11th century)
The fact is, protecting our eyes from sun rays goes all the way back to pre-history.
The Inuit people used walrus ivory to form protective snow goggles. By cutting narrow slits in the ivory and bone, they were able to reduce the blinding sun reflecting off the snow.
And while they weren’t the fashion statements we think of today, they still worked.
And eventually, other North American and Asian indigenous peoples crafted similar items out of available materials.
Overall these early sunglasses were effective at protecting from the discomfort of the sun on snow. But there would be plenty more innovation to come.
Judge and Jury (12th century)
In 12th century china, the first tinted-lens sunglasses resembling our modern designs appeared. This design featured lenses made of flat pieces of smoky quartz while a frame secured them to the face of the wearer.
But these sunglasses weren’t for the average person.
They were actually used to shield the eyes of court judges so you couldn’t see their facial expressions during trials. This allowed the judge to remain impartial and fair in his or her judgments.
Eventually, these designs migrated west from China to Europe in the 1400s, but it would be several hundred years before sunglasses became truly popular.
Seeing the World Through Green Colored Glasses (1700s)
In the mid-1700s, tinted lenses began to gain popularity. A British optician named James Ayscough (who would later be known for designing microscopes and barometers) used green and blue lenses to improve vision in his eyeglasses.
Ayscough thought these tints would help with specific types of decreased visual acuity. And he wasn’t completely wrong.
What he discovered is that the green tint acts as an additional protective lens color for your eyes. Several years later, in the 1700s and early 1800s, these green lenses gained popularity, suddenly making sunglasses more common for everyday people.
After a while, he noticed that his lenses were particularly popular among the elderly, who had difficulty distinguishing colors. These glasses were thus also known as “old man’s spectacles.”
Ayscough eventually discovered that blue-tinted glass helped with color blindness and other eye conditions. He went on to found the first optometry school in
But we were still far from the biggest innovations in sunglasses.
Dawn of a New Century (Early 1900s)
The 20th century saw sunglasses come into their own.
In 1913, renowned chemist and physicist Sir William Crookes, revolutionized the industry with the Crookes lens. These lenses were ahead of their time and blocked 100% of harmful UV rays, similar to today’s sunglasses.
But it would be a while before this UV protection hit mass production.
As the 1900s progressed, sunglasses began to have several pop culture moments that would define the next century.
Who’s Behind Those Foster Grants?
Sam Foster, would ultimately bring mass-produced sunglasses to the United States in 1929.
Sunglasses with darkened lenses had been popping up on Hollywood movie stars and were eagerly snapped up by Sam Foster’s boardwalk customers in Atlantic City for 10 cents a pair.
For the first time, sunglasses became an affordable fashion statement. But they were only getting started in America.
Aviators Take to the Skies
It wasn’t long before the practical application of sunglasses was recognized. In 1935, the U.S. Army Air Corps, ordered the first sunglasses specifically designed for pilots.
These D-1 glasses, with their rigid frame, were soon replaced by the more comfortable AN6531 design, more commonly known as the Aviator.
Made by several companies, including American Optical and Bausch & Lomb, this iconic style protected pilots’ eyes from the intense glare of the sun while allowing them to still look down at their instrument panels.
This single style, with its teardrop-shaped lenses, double bridge, and flexible metal frame, has endured as part of American eyewear culture for almost a century.
And while the Aviator has gone in and out of style based on the decade, it always remains a classic design.
But now, it was time to focus on lenses.
The Start of Polarized Lenses (1930s and 40s)
The late 1930s brought more than the Aviator frame to the sunglasses market. In 1936, Edwin Herbert Land, the co-founder of the Polarized Company, introduced the world to the Polaroid filter.
The Polaroid filter finally combined fashion and function, offering 100% UV protection to the masses! And this technology would lay the foundation for the Polarized lenses found in sunglasses today.
For the first time, Americans realized just how effective polarized lenses are at reducing glare.
Suddenly the fashion craze was protecting your eyes, and sunglasses were the accessory to have.
Protecting Our Troops With Ray-Bans
One of the biggest breakthroughs for Polarized lenses would come at the hands of Ray-Ban (then a part of Bausch & Lomb). Then the default supplier of the US military, Ray-Ban, introduced polarized lenses for military aviator sunglasses.
And as expected, they were a hit.
Similar to the effect on jeeps after World War II, soldiers quickly spread the word of their great new Ray-Bans. All while their leader and national hero, General Douglas Macarthur wore his aviators to the movies.
Soon enough, polarized lenses, with their mirrored look, brought Hollywood stars out to play. Sunglasses were the hottest fashion craze.
And the anti-glare breakthrough of polarized lenses was not going to be the last breakthrough for sunglasses.
Graduated and Photochromic Lenses
Shortly after the introduction of polarized lenses, graduated and photochromic lenses burst onto the scene.
And these new technologies seemed straight out of science fiction.
First, graduated lenses provided a gradient look, with a darker appearance at the top and more visibility at the bottom. These lenses were designed to protect from the overhead sun while still allowing you to see in the middle/lower portion of the lens.
Then, Photochromic lenses took this idea to the next level. Instead of one lens being two different colors, why not have the whole lens change colors?
Photochromic lenses darken when exposed to sunlight and lighten when that light disappears. This means the actual tint of your lenses changes based on the amount of sunlight. And suddenly, gone are the days of needing two pairs of sunglasses.
But there was a catch.
Especially at the start of these lenses, it would take 30 seconds or longer to transition between colors, which most people found frustrating.
Over the next 20 years, this technology would continue to improve (You can read more in our full guide to Photochromic lenses). But the sunglasses industry had other ideas.
Fashion Forward (1950s to Today)
In the late 1900s, the sunglasses industry became even further focused on fashion.
After the introduction of the iconic Aviator in the 1930s, designers soon realized that sunglasses would become a staple of design and fashion.
Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn were just a few of the names who began sporting the iconic cat-eye frame – the fashionable choice of the 1950s.
And as the 1960s and 1970s came about, so did the big square frames of Brigitte Bardot, the small round tea shades of John Lennon, and the oversized lenses of Jackie Kennedy.
Popular styles were getting more diverse. And fashion designers and labels were reacting with a variety of sunglasses on store shelves.
The Birth of Modern Sunglasses
As different sunglasses designs began hitting the market, the 1980s saw the resurgence of retro styles.
And among them – the aviator.
Ray-Ban hit the jackpot during this decade, as the movie Top Gun brought a wave of enthusiasm for their classic Aviators.
Then the 1990s introduced trendy small oval lenses. It was a completely new fashion-forward look that, like many of our choices in the ’90s, rightfully belongs to stay in that decade.
And as the world moved into the new millennium, so did an abundance of sunglasses styles. Like many other products, there are now more choices and variety than ever before.
But one trend stood clear from the pack – performance sunglasses.
Athletes had been wearing sport-specific sunglasses for decades by this time, and the styling had worked its way into streetwear.
Retro and wrap styles began gaining even more popularity among athletes and streetwear. And those athletes were becoming bigger players in pop culture.
These trends have shaped our current sunglasses market.
Today, variety is the name of the game. Fashion is a broad interpretation thanks to the prevalence of social media and the internet. And this means sunglasses companies are focused on producing a wide variety of designs that can appeal to as many people as possible.
But there are a lot fewer sunglasses companies today than you might think.
Consolidation and the Rise of the Mega Brand Luxottica
As you walk into any SunglassHut, Lenscrafters, or other major global eyewear chains, you’d gaze upon row after row of sunglasses. All of which appear to be from dozens of sunglasses brands.
But they’re not.
Today, over 80% of the global eyewear market is controlled by one company – Luxottica.
As we highlighted in our history of Luxottica, today, they operate brands including Oakley, Ray-Ban, Costa, Gucci, and many more.
In fact, all of the brands you see in a SunglassHut, or Lenscrafters store are all owned by Luxottica. Oh, and so are the stores themselves.
While each of the brands generally operates independently, this has given many consumers reason to question the quality and increasing pricing in the market.
The question is – Will it ever change? And who will write the next chapter in the history of sunglasses hold for the future?
What are the Most Popular Types of Sunglasses Today?
Now that you know a little bit about the history and benefits of sunglasses let’s take a look at the different types that are available today. When choosing a pair of sunglasses, it’s important to consider both your personal style and the activities you’ll be using them for. Do you need a pair that will stay put while you’re running? Or something that can be easily slipped on and off throughout the day? Here are a few of the most popular types of sunglasses available:
Wrap-around
These offer great protection from UV rays thanks to their large lenses and close fit to your face. They’re also ideal for athletes or anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors, as they stay put even when you’re sweating or moving around.
Aviators
One of the most classic sunglass styles out there, aviators were originally designed for pilots (hence the name). They’re characterized by their teardrop-shaped lenses and thin metal frames—but you can find them in all sorts of materials nowadays, from plastic to wood.
Wayfarers
Another timeless style, wayfarers were made famous by celebrities like James Dean and Audrey Hepburn in the 1950s. Like aviators, they feature teardrop-shaped lenses—but their frames are much thicker across the top than at the bottom.
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