How Glasses Help Your Eyes

Polished crystal was used as early as 700 B.C. by the Assyrians to magnify and clarify objects, and ancient Egyptian and Romans used similar devices to achieve the same effect. These devices are the earliest known forms of glasses. More modern forms of glasses are used today to correct vision problems and enhance the well-being of people around the world.

The Eye

• The eye comprises the cornea, iris, pupil and retina. When all parts of the eye function correctly, there are no vision problems. However, if the retina cannot refract light correctly, the person encounters refractive problems that can alter the way her or she sees things.

Causes

• Some causes of refractive problems include a misshapen eye or the image that enters the eye through the pupil is not accurately focused on the retina. This is similar to a projector that is sharply in focus being moved closer or farther away from a screen. This action causes the image to be less focused, according to Newton BBS.

Uses

• Glasses correct refractive problems by properly bending the light that enters the pupil so the retina can clearly register the image, according to the KidsHealth website. In the previous example, with a projector that is moved closer or farther away from an object, glasses act as adjustments to the projector knob, sharpening clarity and bring the object into better focus.

Considerations

• Although glasses are the most common solution to vision problems, laser surgery is available for permanent correction. This surgery is not recommended for children and can have serious side effects, according to KidsHealth.