Mike Carruthers

When did that really start to take off?

Maybe this is just my perception, but it does seem to me that more people wear glasses today than ever, than ever before.

I want to talk more about what I think is this fascinating contradiction where in some people's eyes, glasses detract from your looks.

They don't make you as attractive, and other people think exactly the opposite.

I'm talking with David King Dunaway, and he is author of the book A Four-Eyed World.

So, David, talk about this idea that glasses make you unattractive, whereas some people think glasses make you attractive.

But it seems that it used to be thought that not wearing glasses would be better.

Yeah, well, that's one way to look at it.

I wonder if you asked people, when they get their picture taken, when they take their glasses off, why do they take their glasses off?

What is that accomplishing in their mind?

Well, one thing that has changed today, it seems, when I was a kid, I remember

that kids wore glasses and they went to the eye doctor.

It all had a very medical tone to it.

Now, you know, fashion designers are putting their names on glasses.

People seek out glasses, particularly sunglasses, that say something, that make a statement.

There's fun, different kinds of frames and things.

The glasses have come out of their shell a little bit, I would say.

So when did somebody say, hey, you know, we're wearing glasses.

What if we tint them so people could wear them in the sun and not have to squint their eyes?

That sounds like a really good idea.