Re: Why were monocles invented

Hi,

Well, let me first say that this is not a stupid question at all. From what little I know about the monocle, they are currently not used or at least not to my knowledge. They were used in the past before spectacles were invented, as a near vision correction device for people afflicted with presbyopia (an age related condition that causes difficulty focusing for near tasks due to the deteriorating flexibility of the crystalline lens inside the eye). I assume most people who used them did a lot of reading and had decent distance vision (they were not very nearsighted) so they only used it to focus in on small near point tasks.

You are very right when you say people generally do not want to use just one lens to see unless they have a severe lazy eye or otherwise compromised vision in one eye. Even then, it would seem more useful to have a pair of glasses that sits on the face by thenselves. I'm not sure about the stylishness of the monocle. In modern times, glasses are routinely prescribed to correct the condition presbyopia as well as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. They are also used for lazy eye correction, vision therapy exercises, and as a fashion accessory.

For further information, you might check your local library as I don't have a good reference for you. Best of luck!

Kenton L. McWilliams, O.D.

Moderator's Note:
The monocle was invented in Germany in the late 1700s by J. F. Voigtlander, but didn't reach popular use until the 1800s, when it was initially introduced in England. See the History of Eyeglasses for more information.