The sunglasses problem no one is talking about: Could it be affecting you too?
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A strange and unsettling issue has been leaving many Australians feeling baffled and frustrated when wearing sunglasses.
What seemed like a minor inconvenience has grown into a widespread phenomenon, sparking confusion across the country.
Could there be an explanation behind this perplexing experience?
Hundreds of people have shared their experiences of feeling ‘overstimulated’, ‘disorientated’, and ‘confused’ whenever they wear sunglasses, sparking widespread curiosity.
The mysterious condition, which some have labelled ‘eye prison’, has left those affected questioning why they feel this way.
Roxana, from Germany, spoke about her struggles in a viral social media video, revealing that she ‘can’t see’ when wearing sunglasses.
‘I would love to be one of those girls who always wears sunnies, but whenever I wear them, I feel like I can’t hear and I can’t see,’ Roxana said in the clip.
More than 3,000 people responded with their own experiences. One woman shared how wearing sunglasses made her feel ‘detached from the world’.
‘I can’t focus,’ wrote one commenter. ‘Makes me feel claustrophobic,’ added another.
‘No one has ever understood me when I say this,’ admitted a third person.
Roxana, along with others, claimed that wearing sunglasses created a sense of confusion and overstimulation.
Australian ophthalmologist Dr Jacqueline Beltz weighed in on the phenomenon, explaining the connection between sight and smell is not fully understood but there is a link.
Dr Beltz said: ‘We do know that the brain relies on visual cues to process auditory information properly.’
‘Studies have shown that subjects find sound to be more difficult to process when they look away from the origin of the sound.’
‘This means that our brains need to work harder to make sense of what we hear if we’re not looking towards the sound, and this is even true in the dark.’
‘Our brain likes to match what we hear with what we see, which is likely also why ventriloquists can fool us. Having said this, many people with low vision can hear just fine, and many people with poor hearing don’t have any visual problems at all.’
‘Presumably, some people can be more sensitive to changes or to overstimulation of adjacent senses than others.’
Although it might seem like a rare issue, many people in the social media comments revealed they experienced similar symptoms.
Dr Beltz added: ‘There is no clear scientific explanation, but we might presume that the overall dimmed lighting has more effect on some people than others. In addition, sunglasses really can interfere with vision under certain circumstances.’
She also noted that sunglasses, especially polarised lenses, could impact vision in specific situations.
‘Polarised lenses in sunglasses block out horizontal light rays, reducing the effect of glare from certain surfaces, such as water and roads,’ Dr Beltz explained.
‘It’s normal to struggle to see LCD screens such as phones or tablets when wearing polarised sunglasses because those screens also include some degree of polarisation and having both at once can set up a sort of “conflict” between the two, resulting in the screen appearing dark or even black.’
Dr Beltz suggested that adjusting the angle of the screen or increasing the brightness could help, or simply removing the sunglasses altogether.
Research by Specsavers found that individuals with lighter-coloured eyes are more vulnerable to serious eye conditions like macular degeneration, cataracts, and ocular melanoma due to increased UV sensitivity.
Dr Beltz recommended that anyone experiencing discomfort or vision problems should visit an optometrist for a comprehensive eye check.
‘Seeing an optometrist for an eye review would be highly recommended for anybody experiencing these sorts of problems, or anybody aiming to improve their eyesight,’ she said.
Some people may be suitable candidates for laser vision correction or other surgeries to reduce their dependency on glasses, which could improve their overall experience with sunglasses.
‘Removing the need for glasses would not necessarily solve this sunglasses issue, but it would mean that sunglasses would not need to be prescription and it also removes one factor from the equation,’ Dr Beltz shared.
She also advised adults over 40 to have an annual eye check-up and anyone experiencing discomfort should seek a review sooner.
Have you ever felt disoriented or confused when wearing sunglasses? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
What seemed like a minor inconvenience has grown into a widespread phenomenon, sparking confusion across the country.
Could there be an explanation behind this perplexing experience?
Hundreds of people have shared their experiences of feeling ‘overstimulated’, ‘disorientated’, and ‘confused’ whenever they wear sunglasses, sparking widespread curiosity.
The mysterious condition, which some have labelled ‘eye prison’, has left those affected questioning why they feel this way.
Roxana, from Germany, spoke about her struggles in a viral social media video, revealing that she ‘can’t see’ when wearing sunglasses.
‘I would love to be one of those girls who always wears sunnies, but whenever I wear them, I feel like I can’t hear and I can’t see,’ Roxana said in the clip.
More than 3,000 people responded with their own experiences. One woman shared how wearing sunglasses made her feel ‘detached from the world’.
‘I can’t focus,’ wrote one commenter. ‘Makes me feel claustrophobic,’ added another.
‘No one has ever understood me when I say this,’ admitted a third person.
Roxana, along with others, claimed that wearing sunglasses created a sense of confusion and overstimulation.
Australian ophthalmologist Dr Jacqueline Beltz weighed in on the phenomenon, explaining the connection between sight and smell is not fully understood but there is a link.
Dr Beltz said: ‘We do know that the brain relies on visual cues to process auditory information properly.’
‘Studies have shown that subjects find sound to be more difficult to process when they look away from the origin of the sound.’
‘This means that our brains need to work harder to make sense of what we hear if we’re not looking towards the sound, and this is even true in the dark.’
‘Our brain likes to match what we hear with what we see, which is likely also why ventriloquists can fool us. Having said this, many people with low vision can hear just fine, and many people with poor hearing don’t have any visual problems at all.’
‘Presumably, some people can be more sensitive to changes or to overstimulation of adjacent senses than others.’
Although it might seem like a rare issue, many people in the social media comments revealed they experienced similar symptoms.
Dr Beltz added: ‘There is no clear scientific explanation, but we might presume that the overall dimmed lighting has more effect on some people than others. In addition, sunglasses really can interfere with vision under certain circumstances.’
She also noted that sunglasses, especially polarised lenses, could impact vision in specific situations.
‘Polarised lenses in sunglasses block out horizontal light rays, reducing the effect of glare from certain surfaces, such as water and roads,’ Dr Beltz explained.
‘It’s normal to struggle to see LCD screens such as phones or tablets when wearing polarised sunglasses because those screens also include some degree of polarisation and having both at once can set up a sort of “conflict” between the two, resulting in the screen appearing dark or even black.’
Dr Beltz suggested that adjusting the angle of the screen or increasing the brightness could help, or simply removing the sunglasses altogether.
Research by Specsavers found that individuals with lighter-coloured eyes are more vulnerable to serious eye conditions like macular degeneration, cataracts, and ocular melanoma due to increased UV sensitivity.
Dr Beltz recommended that anyone experiencing discomfort or vision problems should visit an optometrist for a comprehensive eye check.
‘Seeing an optometrist for an eye review would be highly recommended for anybody experiencing these sorts of problems, or anybody aiming to improve their eyesight,’ she said.
Some people may be suitable candidates for laser vision correction or other surgeries to reduce their dependency on glasses, which could improve their overall experience with sunglasses.
‘Removing the need for glasses would not necessarily solve this sunglasses issue, but it would mean that sunglasses would not need to be prescription and it also removes one factor from the equation,’ Dr Beltz shared.
She also advised adults over 40 to have an annual eye check-up and anyone experiencing discomfort should seek a review sooner.
Have you ever felt disoriented or confused when wearing sunglasses? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
