When we hear “blind people”, what images spring to our minds? The image of a man wearing dark sunglasses and holding a stick is all that comes to mind. Have you ever wondered , why are blind people wearing sunglasses? Why is this? There are reasons why sun glasses are worn. Some people believe that blind people wear sunglasses to cover their eyes. It is not true. We will discover why we wear it and the benefits they provide.

Why wear sunglasses by blind people

  1. Better vision
  2. Sun protection
  3. Protection against mechanical stress
  4. Aesthetic reasons

1. Better vision

It is accepted that the blind have no vision. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of blind people are not totally blind. This means that they can still see or perceive certain visual cues.

According the American Foundation for the Blind

Legal blindness refers to a degree of vision impairment that has been legally established in order to be eligible for benefits. A clinical diagnosis is a central vision acuity of 20/200 in the best eye with the most corrective lenses and/or a visual field of 20 or less. Many people with legal blindness have still some useable vision.

Some people are legally blind, but they have a limited field of vision that allows them to see in a small area. This is often called “tunnel sight”. These people can use special glasses to better identify and orientate details.

2. Sun protection

Like anyone else with good eyesight, the majority of visually impaired people require shades to protect their eyes against certain harmful elements of sunlight. Eye cancer can be caused by prolonged ultraviolet radiation exposure. Blind people are unable to see ultraviolet rays and have no way to tell if they are. This makes wearing sunglasses even more important.

Some blind people wear shades that block harmful UV radiation, reduce ambient light intensity and block harmful UV radiation. Others wear shades that protect their eyes from specific colors that are particularly sensitive.

3. Protection against mechanical stress

Blind people also wear glasses to communicate to others, especially when they are in public places.

The use of white cane and black sunglasses helps us identify blind people in public. People are often able to identify the blind person in front of them and act accordingly. They can travel without fear and safety in public places.

4. Aesthetic reasons

Sunglasses are worn by many visually impaired people to make them feel more comfortable when speaking. Blind people may have difficulty maintaining eye contact with others because their eyes are not always looking in the same direction as the sound source. To avoid awkwardness in conversations, they wear glasses to cover their eyes.

Sometimes, people lose their sight due to severe injuries or accidents that permanently damage or disfigure the eyes. They hide their eyes, especially from others, on social media.

There are many reasons visually impaired people wear dark shades. Although it is commonly believed that all visually impaired persons are blind, this is not always the case. They often have some degree of vision that aids them in daily life and social situations.