Material Culture of Eyeglasses: Through the Lens of Environmentalism and Sustainability

HIS 350L: Radical Hope and Global Environmental History

By Melissa Thapa

In Murano, Italy during the 13th century, the first pair of eyeglasses were invented as reading and visual aids from the supplies of iron, wood, and animal horns. The modern style of eyeglasses frames which is the structure of placing the eyewear over the ears and nose was invented in 1727 by British optician Edward Scarlett. The frames of these pairs were constructed with copper, wood, or lead. In the 1980s, the production of plastic lenses was introduced in order to provide a more long-lasting option for eyeglasses. Since then, the production of eyeglasses has continued to develop and be used by mankind for the purpose of eye protection and vision. In 2019, over seven million pairs of prescription eyeglasses were sold in the United States. According to the Vision Council of America, approximately 64% of adults wear eyeglasses for vision correction. The usage of eyeglasses is an essential need for many individuals and as the population continues to grow, the demand for eyeglasses will also increase. As these numbers continue to rise, the environmental impact of eyeglasses will bring about despair. 

The environmental footprint of eyeglasses is concerning as it is an everyday item for many people. According to statistics, eyeglasses produce about 35 grams of waste and are made of materials that are difficult to recycle, for instance, the lens and frames of many eyeglasses are made of plastic. The process of recycling eyeglasses is an arduous approach that requires the procedure of deconstructing the object into bare materials before they can be recycled separately. Due to the complexity of the operation, many recycling companies choose to exclude eyeglasses from their acceptable recyclable items. 

The contrast between the decision made by some recycling companies to prohibit eyeglasses as a sustainable material to recycle to the high consumption rates of the object showcases a distinct display of the complexity of politics in everyday life. Eyeglasses provide the assistance of vision, a personal necessity for many human beings while recycling is an important system for the well-being of the environment as it helps prevent the emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants, and save energy. This convoluted relationship between object and procedure provides an idea of the importance of more sustainable alternatives to material culture and consumerism of eyeglasses. 

Historically, the production of material culture like eyeglasses has been enforced for personal gain and usage without any regard for the environment. However, there are other methods for eyewear to be a more viable product. Many companies have approached eco-friendly manufacturing techniques for the pursuit of global environmental sustainability. While the process of manufacturing recycled eyewear can be difficult, companies like Solo and Sea2See Eyewear are dedicated to producing eco-conscious products by selling recycled plastic glasses. Metal frame glasses are a more long-lasting and supportable choice for buyers as well. For production, metal eyeglasses are constructed from special alloys like steel frames, titanium, aluminum, Monel, and nickel silver. Bamboo frame glasses is an eco-friendly alternative, it’s made out of a fast-growing plant that is an abundantly available resource. Lastly, another popular option that many individuals may opt for is contact lenses. PubMed published a study in 2003 that showed the amount of waste associated with contact lenses is 0.5%. This number ranks low, when compared to waste consumers are generating every day. Not only do contact lenses use less plastic compared to eyeglasses, but many companies are also developing biodegradable contact lenses which is a huge step for the pursuit of global environmental sustainability. 

The material used to develop and produce these alternatives is extremely important as it is used to fight pollution in order to promote the sustainable use of renewable and biodegradable materials. The eyeglasses industry is facing the global challenge of promoting the endurable use of their products. 

Radical hope is the capability to produce ideas of alternative ways to create plans that are different from the past for the betterment of the future. Hope is viewed as a radical idea in the aspect that is it formed through events of the past and present to develop alternative methods that may be viewed as out of question. However, these options and paths exist for a reason as they do have possibilities. The idea of sustainable eyeglasses for the betterment of the environment is a process that is available with different structures and procedures. This perspective, showcases the progress of radical hope and how everyday items like eyeglasses can have a huge impact on our lives and future generations. 

Resources:

Morgan SL;Morgan PB;Efron. “Environmental Impact of Three Replacement Modalities of Soft Contact Lens Wear.” Contact Lens & Anterior Eye : the Journal of the British Contact Lens Association, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16303496/.

The editorial unit. “Eco-Conscious Eyewear: Why Frame Material Matters.” The Upcoming, 20 Mar. 2021, https://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2021/03/20/eco-conscious-eyewear-why-frame-material-matters/.

“The Quest for Clearer Vision: The History of Eyeglasses.” Salus University - The Quest for Clearer Vision: The History of Eyeglasses, https://www.salus.edu/Centennial-Celebration/Highlights/Centennial-Features/The-Quest-for-Clearer-Vision-The-History-of-Eyegl.aspx.

Perfectlens.ca. “Daily Disposable Contact Lenses Are Better for the Environment.” Perfectlens.ca, 12 June 2018, https://www.perfectlens.ca/articles/daily-disposable-contact-lenses-better-for-environment.

Udi Guidance for the S&R, E&A and ... - Thevisioncouncil.org. https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/sites/default/files/Revised-2022-TVC_UDI_doc.pdf.