Collection: American Optical

Before the automobile. Before radio. Before typewriters, elevators and telephones. Before electricity, in 1833, American Optical was helping people see the world. The oldest and largest optical company in American history, it has pioneered optical and eyewear innovation for centuries. AO’s founders believed that everyone should have access to eyeglasses, not just the elite, and changed history by bringing eyeglass manufacturing to the United States. Since then, AO has created sunglasses worn by pilots, presidents and NASA space crews.