BARTON PERREIRA BRASCO (Polarized)

With so many different types of lenses available today, it’s prudent to consult with an optician for advice when choosing sunglasses. We’re all unique and so are our behaviors so it’s also important to select something that suits our individual activities and requirements. There are numerous types of lenses which help to see differently in certain conditions. If you are considering buying sunglasses, below are some lense types and their functions which will assist in making a good choice.

Polarized lenses reduce reflected glare and are quite popular among those who engage in water and winter type sports. The polarized lenses reduce glare which is caused by light that is reflected off water, snow and ice and also the surface of the sunglasses themselves.

Blue blocker lenses block blue light as that can be harmful to the eyes and may cause diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Sunglasses which have blue blockers have amber lenses and are quite common among boaters, pilots, skiers, etc.

Mirror coated lenses limit the amount of light that enters your eyes. Sunglasses which have mirror coated lenses are quite comfortable and very effective when taking part in activities under extremely bright conditions.

Gradient lenses are shaded from top to bottom. The top part is the darkest. These are perfect for driving as the top protects the eyes from the sunlight. Since the lower part of the glasses is less tinted, allowing more light, the drivers can read the dashboard more clearly.

Double gradient lenses are tinted from the bottom to the top but the difference is that it is only the middle part which has a lighter tint. The bottom part of the sunglasses and the top has the darkest tint and protect the eyes from overhead sunlight.

Photochromic lenses are special type of lenses that adjust their level of darkness depending on the amount of ultra violent light which the wearer is exposed to.

It’s easy to see that different types of lenses provide varying benefits. It’s also important to understand in what conditions will you be wearing your sunglasses. If you are looking for mere protection from the sun, polarized sunglasses are a good choice. If you’re a sportsperson, wear sunglasses for driving or just during different times of each day you’ll want to consider more information regarding the correct pair of sunglasses to purchase.

Your optician should ask you in what conditions you’ll normally be wearing your new sunglasses. They’ll then be able to provide additional information regarding lense types for varying light conditions as well as the proper frames and manufacturers for you…

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It’s been reported that Seneca – the Roman statesman, dramatist, and philosopher (4 BC-65 AD) – used a glass globe filled with water as a magnifier to read “all the books of Rome.”  Around the year 1000, glass blowers in Italy are credited with producing reading stones made of solid glass.  These devices were similar to hand-held magnifying lenses of today.

In the mid-13^th century, English philosopher and scientist Roger Bacon reported on the use of reading lenses.  It’s unclear whether he was referring to reading stones or lenses in frames worn in front of the eyes, but he wrote in 1268:

“If anyone examines letters or other minute objects through the medium of crystal or glass or other transparent substance, if it be shaped like the lesser segment of a sphere with the convex side toward the eye, he will see the letters far better and they will seem larger to him.  For this reason, such an instrument is useful to all persons and to those with weak eyes for they can see any letter, however small, if magnified enough.”

Early Reports of the Invention and Use of Eyeglasses

• Most historians believe monks or craftsmen in Pisa (or perhaps Venice), Italy produced the first form of eyeglasses around 1285-1289.  The magnifying lenses for reading were set into bone, metal, or leather mountings, shaped like two small magnifying glasses with the handles riveted together to form an inverted “V” shape that could be balanced on the Bridge of the nose.

• The first specific mention of eyeglasses is in a 1289 Italian manuscript written by a member of the di Popozo family.  The author wrote, “I am so debilitated by age that without the glasses known as spectacles, I would no longer be able to read or write.”

• In 1306, Giordano da Rivalto – a monk in Pisa, Italy – remarked in a sermon, “it is not yet twenty years since the art of making spectacles, one of the most useful arts on earth, was discovered. I myself have seen and conversed with the man who made them first.”  But the name of the inventor was never mentioned.  Rivalto coined the word occhiali (eyeglasses) and its use began to spread throughout Italy and Europe.

• Italian scholar Carlo Dati (1619-76) reported many years later that he read an entry pertaining to the invention of eyeglasses in a Latin Chronicle written in 1313 in a monastery in Pisa.  He described the passage in an essay presented to the Academia della Crusca, a scholarly society in Florence:

“Among the entries in this Chronicle, under the year 1313, it is recorded that in this monastery of St. Catherine there lived and died Friar Alessandro Spina, a monk of most excellent character and most acute mind, who understood everything that he heard said or saw done.  And when it happened that somebody else was the first to invent eyeglasses and was unwilling to communicate the invention to others, all by himself he made them and good-naturedly shared them with everybody.”

So perhaps it is Friar Alessandro Spina of Pisa, Italy, whom we should thank for the gift of eyeglasses.

Artistic Evidence of Eyeglasses

• The first know artistic representation of the use of eyeglasses were paintings by two Italian artists in 1352.  Tommaso da Modena painted a series of frescoes depicting monks reading and writing manuscripts.  One monk holds a magnifying glass, but another wears spectacles perched on his nose.

• The same year, Crivelli painted Hugh of St. Cher, depicting a subject wearing eyeglasses.

Eyeglasses for Nearsightedness

• Eyeglasses for distance vision appeared sometime in the early 1400′s. In his letter to Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici of Florence dated August 25, 1451, Ardouino da Baesse of Ferra mentions that he received four pairs of spectacles, and that three of these were for “distance vision.”

• It has also been reported that Pope Leo X (1475-1521), who was very nearsighted, wore eyeglasses with concave lenses for hunting and claimed they enabled him to see better than his companions.

Other Highlights in the History of Eyeglasses

1600′s Spanish craftsmen create the first eyeglass frame temples.  They attach ribbons of silk or strings to the frame and loop them over the wearer’s ears.  Spanish and Italian missionaries carry the new types of eyeglasses to China.  The Chinese attach small metal weights to the strings instead of making loops.

1730 London Optician Edward Scarlett introduces rigid temples that rest atop the wearer’s ears.

1752 London medical instruments designer James Ayscough designs spectacles with double-hinged temples, which become widely popular.  He also introduces green and blue tinted lenses to reduce glare.

1784 American Benjamin Franklin invents Bifocal lenses.

1799 Scotsman John McAllister, Sr. opens the first optical shop in America in Philadelphia.

1800 The monocle (first called an eye ring) is introduced in England.  Monocles remain  popular in Europe among men in society’s upper class throughout the 1800′s.

1825 Englishman Sir George Airy designs the first lenses to correct astigmatism.

1826 Trifocal lenses are introduced by John Hawkins – inventor, musician, and engineer of London and Philadelphia.

1909 Dr. John Borsch, Jr. introduces fused bifocal lenses, making bifocals thinner and more attractive than Franklin-style bifocals.

1958 Essilor International of France introduces the first progressive multifocal lens, naming it Varilux.

References:

Drewry, Richard D. Jr., M.D.  “What Man Devised That He Might See.”  http://www.palpitacoes.com/spci/glasses.html.

Fleischman, David A., M.D.  “Eyeglasses Through the Ages.” http://www.antiquespectacles.com/history/through_the_ages.htm.

Keeney Arthur H., Hagman, Robert E., Fratello, Cosmo J. Dictionary of Ophthalmic Optics Butterworth-Heinemann 1995.

Lindberg, David C. “Lenses and Eyeglasses.” Dictionary of Middle Ages. Vol. 11. Ed: Strayer, JR. Charles Scribner 1986.

Rosen, Edward. “The Invention of Eyeglasses.” Journal of the History of Medicine: January 1956.

Sunglasses did not undergo further changes until about the eighteenth century because of the work of James Ayscough. He experimented with tinted lenses in spectacles. Ayscough was steadfast in the belief that glasses tinted with a blue or green color could potentially correct specific vision problems. Ayscough was not concerned with protecting the eyes from the sun’s rays.

Sunglasses underwent the change into the popular item they are today when Sam Foster introduced them to America in 1929. These sunglasses were designed to protect people’s eyes from the sun. Foster sold his sunglasses on the beaches of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Foster’s sunglasses were sold at Woolworth on the boardwalk.

In 1936, sunglasses became polarized when Edwin H. Land began using his patented Polaroid filter when making sunglasses. Around this time, even more Americans started buying sunglasses. Famous movie stars and musicians also began to wear sunglasses. They started to become not only a way to protect against sun glare, but also a way to be “cool.” Sunglasses became a cultural phenomenon, and some people wore them even when it wasn’t sunny, or when they were indoors.

Today, sunglasses continue to have advances. UV protection has almost become an industry standard, and there are sunglasses available for a variety of sports. There are numerous tints available for sunglasses, and sunglasses have changed styles over the years. Prescription glasses have also been given tints that only appear when the sun’s rays hit the glasses. In 2004, Oakley developed a brand of sunglasses that had a built-in digital audio player. Many blind people now wear sunglasses, and many recognizable celebrities can be found wearing sunglasses. Even fictional characters can be seen wearing them. Sunglasses have come a long way from their early Roman and Chinese history!

- From “A2Z of Health, Beauty and Fitness”

• Shades is probably the most widely used term for sunglasses in North America.
• Glares is a term popular in India if the glass is dark. If it is light then the term is “Coolers”.
• Sun spectacles is a term used by some opticians.
• Spekkies is a term used predominantly in southern Australia.
• Sun specs (also sunspecs) is the shortened form of sun spectacles.
• Sunglass a monocle version
• Sun-shades can also refer to the sun-shading eyepiece-type, although the term is not exclusive to these. Also in use is the derivative abbreviation, shades.
• Dark glasses (also preceded by pair of) — generic term in common usage.
• Sunnies is Australian, UK and New Zealand
• Smoked spectacles usually refers to the darkened eyepieces worn by the blind
• Solar shields Usually refers to models of sunglasses with large lenses.
• Stunna shades Used as a slang term in the hyphy movement, usually referring to sunglasses with oversized lenses.
• Glecks is Scottish slang for glasses or sunglasses.
• Cooling glasses is a term used all across India and the Middle East for sunglasses.

- From Wikipedia

Barton Perreira has proven an old adage to be true in a most significant way. That being, “there’s always room in this world for a company which designs and produces superior products which also delivers great experiences to its customers.” Because this was quickly recognized, the company made a near immediate and sensational impact on the luxury eyewear industry internationally.

When we look good, we feel good. When we feel good, we’re happier. Such is the reason for focusing, not solely on eyewear product development, but also the intention of helping people to feel good. This is what makes lives better and a clear vision on that is what ultimately leads to great designs and innovation.

To understand the company mindset and how it views the future, we need to look no further than to their own mission statement:

“Dedicated to pure luxury, Barton Perreira’s approach to fashion redefines style and elegance. Patty Perreira’s language of inspired design focuses on the evolution process and continues to challenge the industry by unveiling the next new thing.”

Based near Los Angeles and still just four years old, Barton Perreira is embraced and respected by an ever increasing worldwide community and has become very popular for a long list of recognizable individuals.

** 9026-Eyes carries the entire Barton Perreira eyeglasses and sunglasses collection and loves helping its customers enjoy incredibly great experiences…

• The most expensive pair of sunglasses sold on eBay are: Elvis Presley’s Madison Square Garden’s at $250,000

• Sunglasses constitute a $34 billion annual market at retail.

• In the United States every 14 seconds someone loses, breaks or sits on a pair of sunglasses.

• Men’s sunglasses sell every 90 seconds on eBay.

• It is said that the Roman emperor Nero liked to watch gladiator fights through polished gems to recreate with the color and image distortion.

• In 1929, Sam Foster sold the first pair of sunglasses (Foster Grants) at the Woolworth on Atlantic City Boardwalk. He started the Foster Grant Company in 1919. Sunglasses became popular in the 1930′s.
  

• Sunglasses would not become polarized until 1936, when Edwin H. Land began experimenting with making lenses with his patented Polaroid filter.

• In the 1930s, the Army Air Corps commissioned the optical firm of Bausch & Lomb to produce a highly effective spectacle that would protect pilots from the dangers of high-altitude glare. Company physicists and opticians perfected a special dark-green tint that absorbed light in the yellow band of the spectrum.

• With World War II brewing in 1936, Ray Ban designed anti-glare aviator style sunglasses

• Most Popular Shades: Ray-Ban sunglasses sold 10 million units worldwide in 1998. The best-known model, the Wayfarer, has been available since 1953 and is reported to be the best-selling style in history. It was made famous by many celebrities including the Blues Brothers.

• During the Blues Brothers Movie, Jake wore Ray-Ban 5022C15 Sunglasses (a.k.a. Wayfarer), with brown frames and black lenses. Genuine ’5022′ Ray-Ban sunglasses have the ’5022′ written on the frames. Elwood wore Ray-Ban Wayfarer II sunglasses with black frames and black lenses.

• Approximately 50% of Australians wear sunglasses

• Sunglasses songs:
  “Cheap Sunglasses”, ZZ Top, Deguello, 1979, Billboard #89
  “Sunglasses At Night”, Corey Hart, First Offense, 1983, Billboard #7
  “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades”, Greetings From Timbuk 3, 1986, Billboard #19

• Most characters from movie The Matrix wore sunglasses. All of the protagonists wear rounded lenses, while the antagonists wear rectangular lenses.

• In 2004, Oakley developed Thump, sunglasses with built-in digital audio player.

• In 2005, Oakley developed Razrwire, sunglasses with built-in wireless cellphone headset.