Goggles

Goggles, or safety glasses, are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the area surrounding the eye in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes. They are used in chemistry laboratories and in woodworking. They are often used in snow sports as well, and in swimming. Goggles are often worn when using power tools such as drills or chainsaws to prevent flying particles from damaging the eyes. Many types of goggles are available as prescription goggles for those with vision problems. The Inuit and Yupik peoples carved snow goggles from the antlers of caribou, wood, and shell to help prevent snow blindness. The goggles were curved to fit the user's face and had a large groove cut in the back to allow for the nose. A long thin slit was cut through the goggles to allow in a small amount of light, diminishing subsequent ultraviolet rays. The goggles were held to the head by a cord made of caribou sinew. In the early 20th century, goggles were worn by drivers of uncovered cars to prevent irritation of the eyes by dust or wind. Likewise in the first ten years after the invention of the airplane in 1903 goggles became a necessity as wind blow became more severe as aircraft speeds increased and as protection against bugstrikes at high altitudes. The first pilot to wear goggles was probably Charles Manly in his failed attempt to fly Samuel Langley's aerodrome in 1903. File:Inuit Goggles.jpg|Traditional [[Inuit]] goggles made of [[caribou]] [[antler]], used to combat [[snow blindness]] File:Gogglesnen.jpg|Metal [[Nenets people|nenets]] goggles File:Swimming goggles.JPG|Swimming goggles File:Blowtorching goggles and helmet.jpg|[[Blowtorch]]ing goggles and [[safety helmet]] File:Polar Bear cub with sunglasses.jpg|[[Polar bear|Polar Bear]] cub with sun goggles in the 1940s File:Safety goggles and masks are worn by workers on operations8d18009v.jpg|Safety goggles and helmets, Bell Aircraft, 1943 File:Aviator Wilmer Stultz in 1928 (cropped).