On May 23rd, 1785...

Two Lenses, One Genius! 😎

A Spectacular Day in History

On May 23, 1785, Benjamin Franklin, one of America's most beloved Founding Fathers, introduced the world to his latest and greatest invention: bifocals. If you're tired of constantly switching between two pairs of glasses, you have dear ol' Ben to thank for making your life a whole lot easier!

Frustration Leads to Invention

How did Ben Franklin come up with the idea for bifocals, you ask? Well, it turns out that at the ripe age of 78, Ben was fed up with swapping between reading glasses and distance glasses. Talk about a hassle! 😅 So, Ben did what any annoyed genius would do -- he decided to solve the problem himself.

The Birth of Bifocal Glasses

To create his magnificent invention, Mr. Franklin cut two separate lenses (one for distance vision and one for near vision) in half, and then cleverly combined them into a single frame. Voilà! The bifocal glasses were born. 🎉 Ben's invention made it possible for people to see clearly both up-close and far away simply by changing the direction of their gaze. How cool is that?

Not Just a Founding Father

You probably already knew that Benjamin Franklin helped draft the U.S. Constitution, but did you know he was also a prolific inventor? In addition to bifocal glasses, Ben's brilliant mind gave us the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, and even an improved version of the catheter (ouch!). Ben Franklin: Founding Father, inventor, and hero to nearsighted folks everywhere. 🇺🇸👓

The Evolution of Bifocals

Now, let's fast-forward to today. Bifocals have come a long way since Ben Franklin first pieced them together in his workshop. Modern bifocals are no longer split into two visible sections. Instead, we have progressive lenses -- seamless lenses that gradually change in power from top to bottom. Thank you, technology! 🙌