THREE KEY FACTS The official creator of spectacles is unknown. Alhazen, an Arabian mathematician, is widely considered the “Father of Modern Optics”, while Italian Salvino D’Armati is credited with creating the first wearable pair of eyeglasses in the 13th century. Over 4 billion people across the world wear glasses.
According to Statista, eyewear revenue in New Zealand in 2024 is estimated to be US$458.6 million ($785.77m).
The largest market segment is spectacle lenses - expected to reach a market volume of US$202.2m ($346.53m).
I’ve worn glasses since I was 7 years old and I still loathe them, writes Anna Sarjeant. I found out I needed to wear glasses in quite a peculiar manner. I was 7 years old, sitting on a fence with my older brother, “collecting number plates”.
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