A thousand years before people began wearing regular eyeglasses, the Intuit people, also known as Eskimo, used different parts of animals to make sunglasses to protect their eyes from the glare of the North American Arctic. London's British Museum notes that Intuit goggles were made from bone and other items by people in Siberia, Alaska and across Greenland.
History
The Intuit were hunters and had to travel to find food. They fashioned sunglasses from various animal parts to keep their eyes and face warm and help prevent snow-blindess from the bright arctic glare. The lenses were slits or holes cut into the material.
Antler
Caribou antler was a common material for Intuit snow goggles. Two thin slits or circles were cut into a flat piece of the outer edge of antler. Straps or string were used to tie the antler goggles around the wearer's head. The Intuit would decorate or carve patterns on the antler goggles.
Ivory and Bone
The Intuits cut ivory and bone to curve and fit over the eyes and pierced the ivory with slits. They would attach straps made of braided sinew and tie the goggles around their head so they fit snugly against the face.
Wood
Ivory, bone and antler were the main source of snow goggles until wood became more common for the Intuit with trade and travel. The Vancouver Museum has wooden Intuit snow goggles on display that were made in the 20th century.
Lenses
The Intuit cut narrow slits or circles in the wood, ivory or antler, just wide enough to see through. To help cut down on glare, they rubbed black soot on the back of the goggles.
