Harry Potter Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Harry Potter Wiki

Spectacles (also called eyeglasses or glasses) are composed of two lenses set inside of a frame. They are worn in front of the eyes in order to correct vision disorders.

Glasses in the wizarding world

Albus Dumbledore HBP

Albus Dumbledore, who wore half-moon spectacles

  • Many wizards and witches wear glasses, so it seems that magic is unable to cure myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), or astigmatism like Muggle laser surgery. However, a lost eye can be replaced with a magical prosthesis like that of "Mad-Eye" Moody, which not only restored vision, but had advantages over a normal eye.
  • There are spells which can mend broken glasses. Arthur Weasley repaired Harry's glasses in 1992, but the incantation he used is unknown, as he performed the spell non-verbally.[1]
  • Animagi who wear glasses may have distinctive markings in the same shape as the glasses they wear in human form. The physical location of these markings seems to depend on the type of animal one's Animagus form takes: Minerva McGonagall, a cat Animagus, had markings around the eyes,[2] and Rita Skeeter, a beetle Animagus, had markings around the antennae.[3]
  • Wearing glasses will not protect a person from the fatal effect of the basilisk's stare, because glasses still allow one's line of vision to connect directly and clearly with the serpent's eyes, unlike looking in a mirror or through a camera.[4]

Known wearers

Mcgonagall

Minerva McGonagall

RSkeeter

Rita Skeeter.

Behind the scenes

See also

Notes and references

  1. Chamber of Secrets, Ch. 4
  2. Philosopher's Stone, Ch. 1
  3. Goblet of Fire, Ch. 37
  4. 4.0 4.1 16 July, 2005 press conference at Accio Quote!
Advertisement