Sunglasses have evolved significantly from their early origins, serving both functional and fashionable purposes throughout history.

Early Innovations

• Inuit Snow Goggles: Indigenous Arctic populations, such as the Inuit, crafted snow goggles from materials like walrus ivory, featuring narrow slits to shield their eyes from the intense glare of sunlight reflecting off snow.
  Source: The Metropolitan Museum
  
  

• Ancient China: By the 12th century, Chinese judges utilized flat panes of smoky quartz as rudimentary sunglasses. These early lenses protected against glare and concealed the judges' expressions during court proceedings. 
  Source: Biblionalia
  
  

Advancements in Europe

• 18th Century: In 1752, British optician James Ayscough experimented with blue and green-tinted lenses, aiming to correct specific vision impairments rather than provide sun protection. 
  Source: National Park Service 
  
  

Modern Developments

• 20th Century: The widespread adoption of sunglasses began in the early 1900s, partly due to their use by Hollywood actors to shield their eyes from bright studio lights and to maintain anonymity in public. 
  

• 1930s: The U.S. military commissioned protective eyewear for pilots, leading to the creation of the iconic aviator-style sunglasses. 
  
  

Today, sunglasses are both a practical accessory for eye protection and a significant element in fashion, reflecting a rich history of innovation and cultural significance.