Observed on the 6th of June annually, National Eyewear Day is a holiday that celebrates the miracle of modern spectacles. Eyeglasses have been around for over 700 years and have helped countless numbers of people live happier and more productive lives. Nowadays, glasses are not only used to improve, and sometimes protect, our vision but are also a forward-facing fashion statement. All the more reason to consider observing this holiday by sporting a pair of your favorite frames.

The History of National Eyewear Day

National Eyewear Day was first proposed in 2016 by Zyloware Eyewear. This eyewear company was founded in 1923 by Joseph Shyer and has been a family-owned operation ever since. They wanted to start a holiday that celebrated the benefits of improved vision, as well as to help make people aware of the importance of eyewear as a fashion statement.

Exciting Facts About Eyewear

In the past, having to wear a pair of glasses resulted in the person getting mocked by their peers. Fortunately, there’s less of a stigma for wearing glasses, and it’s even seen as a fashion statement by many people. All the more reason for us to dig into the facts about eyeglasses, so everyone will have the eyeglass trivia they need to celebrate this holiday. Let’s check out some exciting eyewear facts below.

Technically Speaking, Eyeglasses Don’t Exist Anymore

Although the term we use for eyewear is eyeglasses, that’s not actually accurate nowadays. While eyeglasses were originally made with glass lenses, most of them are made with resin nowadays. Sure, “eye-resin” doesn’t have an appealing sound to it, and that’s probably why we still call them eyeglasses.

The Most Expensive Sunglasses Ever Sold

One of the most expensive sunglasses ever sold is a pair of jeweled Chopard frames that sold for £270,000. These sunglasses were made with 60 grams of 24K gold and 51 four-carat diamonds. Now that’s an expensive way to shield your eyes from the sun.

A Lot of Frames Are Broken Every Day in the U.S.

Although we don’t have the number for how many eyeglass frames are broken in the world every year, we do know how many frames are broken in the U.S. every year. In the U.S., over 37,000 pairs of frames are broken—that’s a pair of eyeglass frames getting broken every 14 minutes.

Observing National Eyewear Day

Observing this holiday is as simple as putting on your favorite pair of frames and showing them to the world. While you’re doing so, be sure to post some pics on social media using the hashtag #NationalEyewearDay so we can all appreciate it, too.