Optic aid

Optic aids were small glass implements that provided visual assistance in reading or inspecting small details.

Description
There were several types of optic aids available in the Realms. The most commonly available ones were the following:


 * Magnifying glass : A hand-held tool to help inspecting small objects. It could also be used to start a fire, provided that sunlight and tinder were available. A magnifying glass was a necessary equipment in a wizard's laboratory, and it was also the material component for casting the sunbeam spell. Some sets of thieves' tools also came equipped with magnifying glasses.


 * Monocle : A single lens that enhanced the vision for one eye.


 * Spectacles : A pair of lenses that hung over the user's nose. It was considered an odd implement.

History
Magnifying glasses first became available in Netheril in 2984 NY (-876 DR).

Reputation
The majority of visual aids and those of the highest quality, such as magnifying glasses and spectacles, were constructed by gnomes.