What can archeology tell us about the history of glasses?

Dr. dig responds:
No one knows when or where people first wore glasses. Europeans probably began wearing them in the 1200s. Marco Polo, an Italian trader and traveler, reported that he saw people wearing glasses in China about 1275.

The demand for glasses increased after printed books started to become available in the late 1400s. During the 1500s, people also began using glasses for clearer distance vision. In 1784, the American scientist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, invented bifocals. Bifocals have two-part lenses -- one for reading and one for distance vision.

The Roman emperor Nero watched gladiatorial games through an emerald, though he did this more to shade his eyes from the sun than to improve his eyesight. Nero also ate food coated with gold leaf and was well known for his outrageous and extravagant behavior.

Tibetans wore eyeshades made from woven yak hairs. Ancient Chinese judges wore tinted glasses so no one could see their eyes and guess what they were thinking. But again, these glasses were not the sort that helped to improve eyesight.