Reading aids were hand held or nose-balanced from their inception in the 15th century until 1725 when the temple arm was invented. The lens shape was round. Round eyeglass lenses were used in Nuremberg Spectacles and Quizzing glasses. Roger Bacon in his Opus Majus wrote one of the first references to eyeglasses in 1268. He refers to a reading aid as "the lesser segment of a sphere, with the convex side to the eye".

I own a pair of early nose spectacles dredged from the Thames near London. These spectacles date to around 1450 and held round lenses. Saint Jerome, 1449-1494, is shown in an early painting using round eyeglasses.

The first eyeglasses to have temple arms were invented by a London optician, Edward Scarlett, in 1727. These eyeglasses had round lenses.

Oval lenses were introduced in 1760 and quickly became popular. In fact, most eyeglasses made between 1790 and 1920 had oval lenses. Eyeglasses with round lenses did not become popular again until the late 1800's.

20th century eyeglasses with round lenses include the following styles, Windsor, 3-piece rimless mounts, round wire rims, and plastic frames with round lenses. All of these early 20th century frames are still popular today. The hardest to find, in useable condition, are the early plastic frames with round lenses. Early plastic is not stable. Most surviving examples are not suitable for everyday use.

Other frames with round lenses include: Pince-Nez, Oxfords, and Lorgnettes.

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