Reading stones can help people with their daily vision, but they are still a long way from the discount prescription glasses we know today. Eyeglasses were born with the invention created by the famous Murano Glass Factory in the 13th century. Murano, a small island north of Venice, has long been considered a center of glassmaking. The artisan's knowledge of the glass-making process is not shared with the outside world: the recipe is top secret, and cristalleri is forbidden to leave the island. There was a time when violations of these provisions were punishable by death. During this time, the whole world depended on Italy, because only the Murano Glass Factory produced the white glass for the visual AIDS.

At the end of the 13th century, glass craftsmen (cristalleri) succeeded in making a major breakthrough: they ground out two convex lenses for the first time, placing each lens in a wooden ring with a shaft and connecting it with rivets. Then suddenly discovered: the first pair of glasses was born! To be sure, these "riveted glasses" do not allow the wearer to wear them over the eyes. Still, this is what visual comfort is all about and the ultimate goal. To improve their vision, wearers simply hold this "double glass" and hold it in front of their eyes. The invention is permanently preserved in a building in the area. In 1352, Tomaso di Modena painted frescoes in the chamber of the Convent of SAN Nicolo Dominica in Treviso, including a reading glass and a pair of rivets. And, despite the efforts of all glass craftsmen, it is still impossible to keep all the secrets of glass making. In order to ensure that Venice remained the market leader in the glass industry, after 1300 only those who fully complied with the regulations of the cristalleri (glass artisans) could manufacture "glasses". As time went on, wire-studded glasses were also discovered in Germany: the oldest pair was found in the Weinhausen monastery in the north of the country.

Over time, glassmakers replaced the shafts of riveted glasses with wooden frames made of arches and lead. This result marks another important stage in the evolution of visual AIDS: glasses with mirror legs that are very similar to the glasses we know today. More and more different materials were used: from the 16th century, materials such as leather, tortoise shell, horn, whale bone, iron, silver and bronze were used for processing. These are materials that only the rich can afford.

Glasses of all shapes and sizes

Visual AIDS of all shapes and sizes were developed after the reading stone. For example, since 1727, the monocle has been the most popular accessory among affluent men and women in Germany and England. Then, in 1780, came the spectacles, which were visual AIDS that could be placed in front of the eye and had a long grip. It was also around this time that Nuremberg rimmed glasses were introduced, and they were given the unflattering name "nose-crushers." This type of glasses has a smooth line and consists of a long single piece of wire wrapped around the lens. Although it is made of relatively simple materials, it was very popular in the 19th century. Then the fashion changed and people started to love prince-nez glasses. The "new star" in the device features two lenses connected to a wire embedded in a circular ring perched high above the wearer's nose. From 1841 onwards, nothing else was designed to symbolize the wealthy German bourgeoisie.