In the 1800s, glassblowing was a respected and important profession. Skilled workers spent long hours shaping molten glass into bottles, windows, and decorative items. However, many of these craftsmen faced a frightening problem. Their eyesight slowly faded, and many eventually became blind. For years, nobody understood why this was happening. The condition became known as Glassblower's Cataract, one of the most unusual occupational diseases of the Victorian era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpqRFSNz48Q Life in the Glass Factory Glass factories were extremely hot places. Workers stood close to massive furnaces that burned day and night at temperatures high enough to melt glass. The bright glow from these furnaces was a constant part of their daily work. Glassblowers often spent ten to twelve hours a day near the intense