New Exhibit Gives Insight Into the Fascinating History of Eyeglasses

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For those of us who were called “four eyes” in high school, the image of a pair of eyeglasses might dredge up a negative connotation.

But eyeglasses are actually an incredible technological advancement—one that is seemingly still taking shape (see Google Glass, the latest VR headsets).

Now, the accessory is the focus of a current exhibit at the Design Museum Holon in Israel called Overview. The exhibit is broken out into two sections: a 400-piece collection of eyeglasses from the private collection of an optometrist, some of which date from the 17th century; and a project by Israeli designers and architects, who took the concept of eyeglasses and expanded on it by using technology and innovative materials to produce futuristic specks. There’s a pair of eyeglasses that have a thread passing through the frames and temples, so they can be “folded” like tent poles.

For more on the exhibit, click here. Watch a short preview of it below.