Why are the spectacles always shown as a logo to describe "Reading"

There are a large number of people who need special glasses to be able to read. It's usually because they're near-sighted or far-sighted, or would normally need glasses but choose to only when they read. Personally, I don't need special reading glasses, but after I take my contacts out I use my glasses when I read at night.

There was at one time where people who wore spectacles were considered a sign of grand intelligence. Obviously, I think that has been disproven for a variety of reasons but that perception has stuck time and time again. Even if the original meaning has been lost in time. Still, there were many times where people had this perception that the person wear spectacles were smart or at least looked smart enough to maintain that illusion. Of course, people who read could very well be someone who is smart. Therefore, there was a correlation between spectacles and reading. At least that's how I saw this. Its an interesting little correlation to be sure and the eyesight goes bad for many reasons. Reading in general might not do it, but reading in poor light can in fact cause the eyesight to go bad. Still, the correlation between the two was all about the intelligence of a person.

I think that this is just an artistic view of the word 'reading'!! However I expect that doing a lot of small print reading, especially in darker conditions does help to impair the eyesight!

Well I guess, the spectacles best represent the activity that gives the most reason to need them as we all know reading strains the eyes. Continuous reading without giving the eye some rest would definitely cause difficulties in seeing and therefore at most times the eyeglasses is the answer to correct them. So I think the spectacles is synonymous to reading hence a good icon for reading activities.