James Ayscough
James Ayscough (* around 1720, † 1759 or around 1762) was an English optician and manufacturer of scientific instruments. From 1743 to 1747 he was an apprentice to an optician named James Mann , who 10 years earlier had been involved in the manufacture of the first achromatic lenses (see George Bass ).
James Ayscough was best known for his microscopes . Between 1740 and 1759 he had a shop in London . Around 1752 he developed glasses with side pieces that could be opened twice. Although he made clear lenses for correcting visual defects, he recommended lenses that were colored blue or green. These colored glasses are considered to be the forerunners of today's sunglasses .
His book "A short account of the eye and nature of vision" contains a test image (see right) which was very similar to the Amsler grid developed in 1958 , but which did not serve its diagnostic application with regard to central visual field defects.
Works
- James Ayscough: A Short Account Of The Eye And Nature Of Vision: Chiefly Designed To Illustrate The Use And Advantage Of Spectacles. 1752
Web links
- The History of Eye Glasses or Spectacles
- Trade card for James Ayscough, optician, London, England, 1749-1750
- James Ayscough industrial blue
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Ayscough, James |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English optician and inventor of tinted glasses, the forerunner of sunglasses |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1720 |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1759 or around 1762 |