Diacids of fused arenes have been prepared for use as covalently bound fluorescent optical brightening agents in condensation polymers. The monomers: dimethyl 1,6-pyrene dicarboxylate, dimethyl 1,8-pyrenedicarboxylate, dimethyl 2,7-pyrenedicarboxylate, 1,8-bis(2-carboxybenzoyl)pyrene dimethyl ester, dimethyl 2,6-anthracenedicarboxylate, dimethyl 2,7-anthracenedicarboxylate and dimethyl 9,10-anthracenedicarboxylate are copolymerized with poly(ethylene terephthalate) and their optical properties are assessed. All of the polymers give blue fluorescence, with the copolymer containing dimethyl 1,6-pyrenedicarboxylate being the brightest.