Did Napoleon wear glasses?

Did Napoleon wear glasses?

Yes, Napoleon Bonaparte did wear glasses. He was short-sighted, and he used a pair of scissor-glasses to correct his vision. Scissor-glasses are a type of bifocals that have two lenses, one for reading and one for distance viewing. They were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Napoleon was one of many famous people who wore them.

However, Napoleon was very self-conscious about his glasses, and he rarely wore them in public. In fact, there are very few paintings or portraits of him wearing glasses. This is because there was a stigma attached to wearing glasses in the 19th century. Glasses were seen as a sign of weakness or old age, and Napoleon was determined to project an image of strength and power.

Despite his self-consciousness, Napoleon did occasionally wear his glasses in private. There are a few letters and documents that mention him wearing glasses, and there is even a painting of him wearing them in his study.

So, while Napoleon did wear glasses, he tried to keep it a secret. He was afraid that if people saw him wearing glasses, they would think less of him. This is a shame, because Napoleon was a brilliant military leader, and his vision problems did not prevent him from achieving great things.

Napoleon's reluctance to wear glasses in public may have cost him some advantages. For example, he may have had difficulty reading maps and other documents during military campaigns. However, he was also a very charismatic and persuasive leader, and he was able to overcome his visual impairment to achieve great things.