Sunglasses have a long history but the sunglasses they had in prehistoric times are a lot more different compared to the ones we have today. History has it that the Inuit used flattened walrus ivory as a protection from the sun. These glasses had narrow silts to them so that the wearer could still see.

It is interesting to note that as early as the 12^th century, flat panes of quartz were used to protect one’s eyes from glare. Smoky quartz was used in China at the time but some historians believe that the Chinese may have used “glasses” as protective wear way before the 12^th century.

There are also ancient documents that indicate the use of crystal sunglasses among judges in China during that time. According to the accounts, these glasses helped conceal the expressions on the judges’ faces while questioning criminals or witnesses.

It is also said that Nero –the Roman emperor liked watching fights with emeralds. They worked as mirrors though and not as protective wear. However, this may have been useful later on for those who invented spectacles for corrective purposes.

It was only in the middle part of the 18^th century though when James Ayscough started his experiments with tinted lenses. These aren’t the sunglasses we know of though because Ayscough believed that glasses that are either tinted blue or green can help in the correction for certain vision impairments. One must remember however that Ayscough did not make these spectacles to protect one’s eyes from the rays of the sun.

Another interesting point in history is when amber-colored glasses were prescribed for people who were suffering from syphilis in the latter part of the 19^th century and the early part of the 20 century. This is not some shaman-like prescription though because those who suffered from the disease were very sensitive to light.