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Spectacles have been around for centuries, and have a huge impact on many people's quality of life. So why is it estimated that more than two billion people aren't aware that they need them? Tim Harford considers the difference that seeing clearly makes to the world.

Available now

10 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 Nov 2019 04:50GMT

Image credit

An array of glasses (Credit: Getty Images)

Sources

Theories of Vision from Al-kindi to Kepler, 1981, David C. Lindberg, University of Chicago Press, p 209-210 and p 86

Microscopes and Telescopes, Rebecca Stefoff, 2007, Marshall Cavendish, New York, p 12-13 and p14-16.

Artifacts from Medieval Europe, James B. Tschen-Emmons, 2015, ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, p 260.

A History of Reading, Alberto Manguel, 1997, Flamingo, London, p293.

A History of Reading, Steven R. Fischer, 2004, Reaktion Books, London, p 186.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 2 Nov 2019 05:50GMT
  • Sat 2 Nov 2019 14:50GMT
  • Sun 3 Nov 2019 14:50GMT
  • Sun 3 Nov 2019 15:50GMT
  • Sun 3 Nov 2019 22:50GMT
  • Mon 4 Nov 2019 04:50GMT

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