Did you know that sunglasses were designed for syphilis patients?

Sunglasses gained mass distribution after the world wars, but they appeared long before that. Moreover, their invention has nothing to do with military campaigns and the need to protect the eyes of pilots. The version of the very first optical devices with colored glasses was assigned to infected pale treponema persons.

How did you make such a “discovery”?

The first to receive glass was a blue hue. At first, the invention did not interest the public, but then it became clear that it is easier to look at very bright and iridescent objects in such lenses. This property has become the basis for the use of sunscreens in the treatment of syphilis.

Why did glasses help with syphilis?

One of the symptoms of the disease is photophobia. It is difficult for patients to go outside in clear summer weather. Their eyes begin to hurt and watery. You have to constantly squint. There is only one way out - to wear sun protection.

With the further development of the disease, photophobia can turn into intolerance to any light, even dim. His head starts to hurt a lot. Noble people during the syphilis pandemics that occurred in the 18-19th century had to choose: either to stay in the room all the time, or to start wearing glasses with colored glasses.

The optical device helped not only to avoid migraines and pain in the organs of vision, but also hid the manifestations typical of syphilis in the eye area:

  • dropped eyelashes;
  • roseola, papules on the eyelid;
  • almost no passing conjunctivitis.

The aesthetic question was acute, but there were more pressing problems. Much more important was to avoid the spread of rumors about the presence of the disease. Colored lenses helped conspiracy . The disguise was successful, since at first blue, green and yellow glasses were considered healing. People believed that such lenses had vision-correcting properties. Therefore, ordinary visually impaired people turned to them. This allowed infected treponema to mix with the crowd.

Features of this "treatment"

In the XVIII century, when scientists achieved some success in creating colored and darkened glasses, people with syphilis were assigned blue glasses . It was believed that this particular shade was most effective for the disease. Moreover, the constant wearing of optical devices with unusual glasses was perhaps the most harmless way to treat syphilis. The list of methods included:

  • consumption and rubbing of mercury (in addition, mercury injections and baths were practiced);
  • arsenic fumigation;
  • use and rubbing vinegar.

With this approach to therapy, pale treponema did not survive, but with it went crazy and its carrier died. The central nervous system and internal organs of infected people refused constant contact with acids, heavy metals and poisons before syphilis could provoke it.