In "Lois & Clark" pilot, why does Clark Kent wear glasses?

Question

In the "Lois & Clark" pilot, Clark arrives in Metropolis, looking for a job and adventure. He wants to help people with his abilities, but does not yet have the idea of adopting a "super" alter ego.

Why is he wearing glasses right from the beginning of this episode? Of course, it is convenient that he is, as later when he decides to become a costumed hero with no mask, the glasses help prevent people from recognizing him.

Is there a way to explain the glasses other than laziness on the part of the writers?

Answer 1

There are three possible explanations.

1. It's already part of his "secret" identity. Clark has been "super" all his life, and it's entirely possible that, even though he didn't have a costume, he did some feats of heroics earlier in life and wears the glasses to help confuse eye-witness accounts.
2. It's a fashion choice. Clark Kent is trying to land a position in a traditionally bookish profession. He may have donned glasses for the exact same reason a natural blonde might dye their hair -- to avoid the implication that he's just a jock and not fit for reporting.
3. He might really need them. Clark's vision powers in Lois and Clark appeared to be blocked by his glasses, and that implies that they may have served as a valuable check against accidental voyeurism or heat-blasting someone. It's also possible, since his entire active power set appeared to be consciously invoked, that he really does have vision in need of correction when he's not "going super."

The topic was not, to my knowledge, ever addressed on the series itself.

Answer 2

I've been able to find two in-universe reasons why Clark would be wearing glasses before assuming his Superman identity

1) The original script for "Lois & Clark : The Pilot, part 1" makes it clear that the glasses (along with his suit) are part of a general disguise to conceal his ridiculously buff physique;

THE BATTERED SUITCASE WITH THE INITIALS "C.K." rests on a cement sidewalk in downtown Metropolis.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL

CLARK KENT picking up the suitcase. In his late twenties, Clark has the wisdom of Solomon in his brown eyes, the power of Samson in his dark hair. His muscular physique is concealed behind a grey suit, but his sense of wonder at his new surroundings cannot be hidden, even behind thick black-rimmed glasses."

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2) The other factor in that the post-Crisis Clark Kent is well known to be a fan of the film "To Kill a Mockingbird" starring Gregory Peck. The glasses that the main character wears are extremely similar to those chosen by Clark to form his initial disguise. It's very possible that he was wearing them (and assuming a similar hairstyle) as an homage to his favourite actor.

Out-of-universe, obviously he had to be wearing glasses. In the comic-book series, prior TV shows and films, Clark Kent always wears glasses. Had he turned up without them, audiences would have been immediately confused.

Answer 3

Its a disguise. Plain and simple.

There are plenty of episodes (and storylines in the comic) that deal with Clark's reluctance to reveal his powers, so I'm not going to provide a source for that. But, in-canon for "Lois and Clark" I couldn't see much rationale beyond "it's a disguise".

From episode 306 "Don't Tug On Superman's Cape"

                                      LOIS
                        (picks up glasses)
                  These glasses had me fooled for                               (X)
                  two years.                                                    (X)
                        (puts them on)
                  Boy, what a dope.                                             (X)

                                      CLARK
                  Hey, is it your fault I picked a                              (X)
                  brilliant disguise?                                           (X)

And the disguise seems to work on the witless folk of Metropolis (Episode 420: "I've Got You Under My Skin")

                                  LOIS
                 I can't believe it took me so long
                 to realize it was you.  I should
                 have seen it right away.

                                  CLARK
                 Well, don't feel too bad, honey.
                 The glasses fool everybody.

Feel free to mine through scripts to prove me wrong though.