Why do (Some) Blind People Wear Sunglasses?

Blind people wearing dark glasses is so common that you might not consciously notice it anymore. But. . . why do they do it? Why would people who can't see need to wear anything over their eyes? Well, lots of reasons, it turns out.

Reasons blind people wear sunglasses

Around 6 million Americans have some degree of vision loss, and over a million are legally blind. It's really common to see blind people wearing dark sunglasses. You may have wondered why they do that, and there's an answer to your question — several answers, actually.

Sensory perception and comfort 

The first reason for wearing dark glasses is that most visually impaired people aren't totally blind, and when light gets in their eyes, it hurts. A lot of the conditions that cause vision loss also leave a person sensitive to UV light, such as cataracts. Harsh indoor lighting can also be uncomfortable, and dark glasses go a long way to solving the problem.

Ironically, blocking light may actually help blind people perceive the world around them. People with some visual impairment might see better with stray light filtered a bit, effectively dampening the noise in their field of vision. 

Concealing or managing eye conditions 

Human interaction is instinctively focused on eye contact, and atrophied, injured, or malformed eyes can make casual conversation difficult, especially with strangers in public. Even if the eyes have no noticeable disfigurement, sighted people must be careful not to stare in the wrong direction. A blind person can't always tell if they're staring at another person or making them uncomfortable. In a sense, dark glasses help sighted people function better, just as they do for the blind.

Navigational aids and social signifiers

Sunglasses as (social) navigational aids 

Dark glasses also play a social role, helping blind people integrate better with the sighted world. The type of sunglasses favored by many visually impaired people are, like a white cane or service dog, social markers of blindness that others can spot at a glance. Like many other social symbols, dark glasses may help avoid awkward and potentially hazardous misunderstandings.

Interestingly, a blind person might choose to skip the glasses if these interactions are trying or unwelcome. A visually impaired person who doesn't want special consideration could choose to skip the glasses altogether to avoid giving others the perception that they need help.

Personal preferences and cultural factors

Personal style and comfort  

There's another element to wearing dark glasses that shouldn’t be underestimated: they look cool. People with total blindness might not check themselves out in a mirror as often, but caring how you look to others never goes out of style. True, some people need sunglasses with specific abilities, such as UVA/UVB blocking for people with macular degeneration, but even then, the sky's the limit for style. No matter which way you slice it, sunglasses are a balance between function and form for the blind, as well as for people with normal eyesight.

Addressing common misconceptions 

Dispelling misconceptions 

Of course, the best way to learn anything about the experience of blindness is to genuinely connect with a blind person and ask. As long as you're respectful, many people living with a disability will answer questions about how the world looks from their unique angle.

So why do blind people wear those glasses?

Visually impaired people who wear dark glasses do it for many reasons. Sometimes it helps them see what they can, and sometimes it  blocks damaging light. Other times, they wear them because they look cool, or simply because they like wearing them. Whatever the reason, it's always a good idea to understand what's going on and to keep up a respectful dialog about how everybody's life is different. You can learn more about how your own vision works by setting up an affordable  with 1-800 Contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all blind people wear sunglasses?

Nope. Plenty of blind and visually impaired people don't bother with dark glasses because they either don't need them, don't like them, or put them down and can't find them, just like everybody else.

Can blind people see through their sunglasses?

There is a range or spectrum of blindness. You should not assume that every visually impaired person is completely blind. Some  can see through sunglasses, and it may enhance their vision. Totally blind people, of course, can't see at all, however, sunglasses may help protect them from bright light and glare.

Are there specific etiquette guidelines for approaching blind people who wear sunglasses? 

Blind people in Western societies can be approached with more or less the same social conventions as everybody else, since they're perfectly normal people who generally like being treated like adults. You might want to announce your presence as you approach with a simple hello and make a point of addressing them by name (if you know it) so they know they're not just overhearing a stranger's conversation