Why Do Blind People Wear Sunglasses?

Author: Meredith Marmurek

If you’ve ever noticed a blind person wearing sunglasses, you may have wondered why someone who can’t see would wear them.

You might be surprised to learn that total blindness, which means not perceiving any light at all, is relatively rare. It’s estimated that only around 15% of people with visual impairment are totally blind, while most have some degree of vision and are often diagnosed with low vision.

Low vision is when a person can’t attain normal vision — between 20/10 and 20/25 — with standard corrective measures. These include corrective lenses, surgical interventions, medication, magnifiers, or other assistive devices.

In the U.S., a person may be considered legally blind even if they can detect some light. To determine legal blindness, an eye doctor tests central visual acuity, or what the person can see right in front of them. The doctor also tests their field of vision, which is what the person can see above, below, and next to them without moving their eyes.

A person is considered legally blind if, when wearing glasses or contact lenses:

• Their visual acuity (or sharpness of vision) in their stronger eye cannot be corrected beyond 20/200. This means they can only see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see clearly at 200 feet.
• Their field of vision is limited to less than 20 degrees. A normal field of vision extends about 120 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically.

Why Blind People Wear Sunglasses

People who are blind or who have very low vision may wear sunglasses for several reasons, including:

Protection from Ultraviolet (UV) Light Exposure

Exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays can damage anyone’s eyes. Just a short time in the sun without eye protection can cause photokeratitis, a painful condition that’s like getting a sunburn on your eyes. Photokeratitis is usually temporary and seldom results in permanent damage.

Prolonged exposure to UV rays may increase the risk of developing serious eye health problems, such as:

• Cataracts – Clouding of the eye’s natural crystalline lens.
• Eye cancer – May affect the eyelids and or occur within the eye itself.
• Macular degeneration – Damage to the retina that can cause central vision loss.
• Surfer’s eye (pterygium) – A raised growth on the conjunctiva (the clear structure lining the inside of your eyelids and covering the white of your eye).
• Photoconjunctivitis – Temporary inflammation of the conjunctiva, which can be painful.

Everyone, including people who are blind or have low vision, should wear sunglasses with 100% UVA-UVB protection whenever they’re outdoors to reduce the risk of UV damage.

Reduction of Light Sensitivity

The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the eyeball that senses light. Studies have found that light-sensitive cells in the retina can still sense light even when blindness has occurred.

Some individuals with vision loss may experience photophobia, or light sensitivity, which can cause eye pain. Sunglasses help lower the intensity of bright light and improve comfort.

Protection Against Environmental Risks

Along with protecting your eyes from the sun, sunglasses act as a barrier to help keep dust, pollen, and other debris from getting into your eyes. Blind individuals, like everyone else, benefit from this barrier to help keep their eyes safe and comfortable.

Sunglasses serve another important purpose for people who are blind — protecting their eyes from injuries. Even if people with limited sight can detect light and shadows, it can be difficult to avoid objects like tree branches or open cabinet doors. A blind person may wear sunglasses outside and indoors as a physical shield to help prevent eye injuries.

To Indicate Blindness

For some blind individuals, maintaining eye contact with others can be difficult. Wearing sunglasses, even indoors, is a subtle way to indicate their blindness to others. This can make social situations more comfortable to manage.

Indicating blindness can also alert others that assistance may be needed or prompt them to create a clear path to help reduce the risk of accidents.

Aesthetic Reasons

Blindness sometimes results from eye disfigurement or conditions that may impact the appearance of the eye area. Sunglasses can help conceal imperfections and allow the person to feel more comfortable and confident when interacting with others.

Do Blind People Wear Special Sunglasses?

Many visually impaired individuals wear plano or non-prescription sunglasses for the same reasons sighted people do — to protect their eyes from ultraviolet light and environmental irritants. Since the majority of people considered legally blind have some degree of vision, they may wear prescription sunglasses to help improve their remaining sight.