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= Powell Johnson = Powell Johnson (birth date unknown) was an African-American inventor known for patenting the first form of protective eyewear on November 2, 1880. Although not much information is available about Johnson's life, his patent has been documented, which details the basic structure of protective eyewear.

Patent
Johnson received his patent on November 2, 1880, making him the first person to invent optical aids for a protective purpose. The Eye-Protectors were made "for use of furnace-men, puddlers, firemen, and others exposed to glare of strong light, as well as persons of weak sight, as will hereinafter be set forth".

The Eye-Protectors consisted of two sets of hoops set in line with each other and covered with cloth so as to reduce glare from fires or other bright lights that the intended users may have faced. Johnson does note that "For persons of weak sight a small hole, a, Fig. 4, is made through‘the cloth disks A’ A’, enabling them to see through the said hole and still have the eye shaded from the light".

Johnson's use of two sets of hoops is notable as it increased the quantity of barriers between the eye and the light source, setting a precedent for the use of thick glass, or other transparent and semi-transparent materials in eye protection.

Criticisms of Johnson's Design
Although the Eye-Protectors did serve the function of shielding one from the glare, they did not protect the surrounding facial areas, which were also particularly vulnerable to the light sources (i.e. fire) that Johnson sought to protect against. Additionally, Johnson's design still left the users vulnerable as the 'lenses' were made of cloth, which could have easily caught on fire if the user was too close to the presumed light source.

Recognition
Apart from occasional mentions that this invention was the forefather of modern eye protection, Johnson has not received much attention. He was however, noted in African-American U.S. Patent Office worker Henry Baker's 'Henry Baker Papers', a compilation of patents marked by Baker during his time in the Patent Office to unofficially track inventions by African-Americans to note their contributions at a time when they were not afforded many rights.

Legacy
Despite his lack of recognition, Powell Johnson maintains a legacy as the trailblazer in eye protection as his invention in 1880 was soon followed by the establishment of a safety goggle company, SANIGLAS, by the Julius King Optical Company and American Optical in 1909.

Johnson's invention was improved upon by fellow African-American inventor Garrett Morgan in 1914 as Morgan changed the lenses from cloth to safety glass, and was combined with the gas mask. His invention gained him fame during World War I as the advent of chemical weapons led to high demand of the mask, and it saved the lives of "several men trapped during an explosion in an underground tunnel beneath Lake Erie". During the same decade, increased use of eye protection coincided with the invention of the automobile as eyewear was heavily sought out during the early days of automotive transport during which accidents were frequent.

Since then, protective eyewear has constantly been the subject of innovation as it has been refined for driving purposes, war usage, night usage, and industrial usage

Public Health Significance
Johnson's invention is incredibly important in the scope of public health because it was one of the first step in creating preventive measures to environmental injuries. Through its initial goal to protect users' vision, it has inspired a series of interventions that seek to protect other vital parts of the body too, such as the lungs (gas mask). By protecting its users from blinding light and optical damage, Johnson's Eye-Protectors also help reduce long-term burdens on state-provided health services. Disabilities such as blindness can be highly incapacitating to those who work in heavy-duty manual labor settings, as they are likely unable to contribute to society in different sectors (i.e. service), thereby rendering them dependent on state benefits since their means of contribution has been eliminated. Additionally, protective eyewear is paramount to public health as it greatly assisted in reducing automobile accidents, one of the top causes of death in the United States, during their early days.