Have you ever wondered why some people wear sunglasses indoors? From celebrities and fashionistas to everyday individuals, this trend has become increasingly popular in recent years.

While some may assume it’s just for style or to hide tired eyes, there are various reasons why people choose to wear sunglasses indoors.

In this article, we will explore the different motivations and explanations behind this phenomenon and shed light on the mystery of indoor sunglass wearers.

Why Do Some People Wear Sunglasses Indoor

Photophobia

Photophobia is a medical condition when the eyes become extremely sensitive to bright light. Some people suffer from this and feel a huge discomfort in their eyes or head when exposed to extreme sunlight. On the other hand, some people just tend to avoid light and don’t feel any pain.

Both of these conditions are known as photophobia. As a solution, people wear sunglasses. People with photophobia wear sunglasses even indoors to avoid bright light.

Dry Eyes 

Healthy eyes lubricate the corneas by producing tears. It keeps the eyes clean and healthy. In case of insufficient lubrication, the eyes become dry. 

Dry eyes cause the corneas’ pain fibers to suffer changes. Subsequently, the eyes become sensitive to light. As a solution, people with dry eyes tend to wear sunglasses even indoors to soothe their eyes.

However, wearing sunglasses is a short-term solution. In the long term, eye drops and lubricants work wonders.

Migraine headache

A migraine is a severe headache, well, more than a headache. It is a neurological disease that gets easily triggered by movement, light, and sound. It causes throbbing pain in the head, leaving one in bed for days.

Photophobia affects people suffering from migraine in many ways. Do you know, bright light or glare triggers between 30% to 60% of migraine attacks? When people feel migraine symptoms, they usually retreat to a dark room or pull the curtains and reach for sunglasses. It eases the pain and this is also one of the reasons why some people wear sunglasses indoors.

Brain Injury 

After any kind of injury to the head, the patient often suffers from a concussion. Due to this, patients often develop photophobia. Light sensitivity is a common outcome of such injuries. 

They start getting severe headaches even in the dimmest light and become highly uncomfortable in the light. Hence, during the recovery period of any brain injury, doctors suggest wearing sunglasses to avoid eye discomfort in the light and to tackle light sensitivity. They lessen the headaches the patients get, to a huge extent. Hence, people suffering from brain injury also wear sunglasses indoors.

Emotional Causes

It is rightly said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Some people who wear sunglasses indoors, don’t have any explained medical reason for being photophobic. They just prefer to put a veil between themselves and the world.

Do you know out of 23 facial expressions relating to human emotion, about one-third of them involve the eyes? Hence, sunglasses not only your view of the world but also hide your emotions from the outside world.

Being unable to see a person’s eyes greatly reduces our ability to comprehend their emotions. Some people tend to hide behind huge sunglasses to hide defects on their face, like dark circles, lack of makeup, bruises (if any), red/exhausted eyes, etc. 

Wearing sunglasses indoors also has psychological reasons on the part of the person wearing them. Some people suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (BDS). It is a psychiatric condition characterized by severe appearance anxiety. The person attempts to camouflage an imagined physical defect.

Some people take semi-delusional comfort from wearing sunglasses by feeling invisible or less visible. It is indeed a flawed logic, but a small naive part of us still believes in this naivete that if I can’t see a person, then the person can’t also see me back.

To Appear Mysterious or Incognito

Wearing sunglasses indoors can create a mysterious or incognito image because it obscures the eyes, which are often considered to be the “windows to the soul.” By hiding the eyes behind dark lenses, a person can appear more enigmatic or elusive, which may be desirable in certain situations.

There are both personal and professional situations where appearing mysterious or incognito might be important. For example, a celebrity or public figure might wear sunglasses indoors to avoid being recognized or bothered by fans, while someone going through a personal issue or emotional turmoil might wear sunglasses to avoid drawing attention to themselves. In a professional context, a person might wear sunglasses to maintain an air of mystery or to project a certain image or persona, such as a spy or a detective.

Is It Wrong to Wear Sunglasses All the Time?

On one hand, wearing sunglasses can prove to be extremely useful to block out the harsh sun glares. But, on the other side, wearing sunglasses all the time can pose a negative impact on our eyes as well. It is advised to avoid wearing sunglasses when you don’t need to wear them.

Being out in the sun is important as there are some wavelengths that the sun gives off that is extremely beneficial for our eyes. Blocking out such wavelengths can affect your eye health. Blocking out too much sun impacts negatively our whole body and affects our overall health.

Final Words 

In conclusion, there are several different reasons why people might wear sunglasses indoors, including as a fashion statement, to hide tired eyes or dark circles, to cover up eye makeup mistakes, for medical conditions, to appear mysterious or incognito, to adjust to different lighting, due to personal preference or habit, and for professional reasons.

It’s important to practice self-awareness and moderation when it comes to wearing sunglasses indoors. While there may be valid reasons for doing so, relying too heavily on sunglasses can have negative implications, such as hindering communication and interpersonal connections, creating a false or inauthentic image, or even exacerbating certain medical conditions.

In general, it’s best to use sunglasses indoors only when necessary and to be mindful of the potential consequences. It’s also important to seek proper medical treatment if needed and to be aware of how one’s appearance and image may be perceived by others. By using sunglasses in moderation and with self-awareness, individuals can make informed choices about their eyewear and maintain healthy relationships and connections with those around them.