Recumbent Spectacles. Courtesy, Mr Richard Keeler, Curator, museum of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, UK.

When one is forced to lie supine, flat on the back, for days on end, how does one pass the time? ‘By reading’ is one obvious answer but even this simple task can become a practical challenge. The eyes can only stare at the ceiling and holding a book between the eyes and roof can be a tiring proposition.

In …