Eyepiece is the general term for the lens-bearing component of optical instruments. This article is confined to the discussion of various terms for spectacles or eyeglasses.
Spectacles is commonly used in Britain and occasionally in the US, in addition to use by professional opticians. Also in frequent use is the shortened form, specs.
Pair of glasses (or just glasses) is also used by some people in Britain and commonly in North America. Compare with other meanings of the word glass.
Eye glasses or eyeglasses is a word used in North American English. In contrast, glass eye refers to a cosmetic prosthetic artificial eye that replaces a missing eye.
Frames is sometimes used to refer to framed eyepieces, although it is not common.
Lenses is also sometimes used to refer to framed eyepieces, although it is not common.
Cheaters is used in the hipster argot. Eyeglasses were a common part of the hipster persona, for example Dizzy Gillespie.
There are also various words referring to eyepieces with darkened lenses:
Sun spectacles is a term used by some opticians.
Sun specs (also sunspecs) is the shortened form of the above term.
Sunglasses is a term in common usage in Britain and North America, and it is also used when preceded by "pair of".
Sun-shades can also refer to the sun-shading eyepiece-type, although the term is not exclusive to these. Also in use is the derivative abbreviation, shades.
Dark glasses (also preceded by 'pair of') - generic term in common usage.
Smoked Spectacles usually refers to the darkened eyepieces worn by blind people.
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