I see people wearing sunglasses all the time. In the mall, while driving, walking down the street, riding bikes… everywhere!
But HOW? How do you see through those things?! When I put a pair of sunglasses on, I completely lose confidence in my ability to see a fair distance. Everything seems to lose definition, and I honestly feel like I lose some of my ability to perceive depth. I’m fine without’em, but I can’t even catch a ball properly with them on.
I’m almost certain that if I tried driving with sunglasses on it would result in a tragic accident.
I’ve never heard people complain about this effect at all. As for myself, I have sunglasses that magnetically clip to my prescriptive corrective glasses. The only thing I notice is the desired effect: reduce the intensity of light (as well as blocking UV and polarizing the light to reduce glare).
Perhaps you should see an opthamologist, doesn’t sound all that typical to me.
You are wearing them in broad daylight, aren’t you? (I had to ask)
That’s precisely what I was getting at. If you’re even mildly concerned (or even curious), there’s no reason not to see and opthamologist (as opposed to optometrist).
ETA: Sorry! I read “psychological” as physiological. That’s probably a better hunch. May be something outside of just a correcting your vision thing. Could be anything from your retina, all the way down to your occipital lobes!
Lens quality can be a big factor. As can sunglass quality. Some cheap versions just create shade. As a test, I’d go to a Sunglass Hut and try a pair of Maui Jim’s. Make sure to ask for the glass lenses (better optics) in the amber color (they offer grey and rose, but they block out more light). If the high-quality Maui Jim amber glass lenses don’t solve your problem, I’d say you have a unique problem and should see a doctor.
Adding to the previous post - color can make a big difference. As I recall, if you’re short sighted you should favor amber lenses. When I use green, for instance, depth and contrast are flattened. OTOH I have a pink snowboard mask which substantially enhances contrast.
Hear, hear! I’m with the OP. My vision’s perfect day and night (corrected myopia), but I can’t stand looking through sunglasses. So much seems lost – contrasts, depths, motions. I always figured I would get used to it if I wore them enough, but I never really saw the need to bother. It’s been this way since I first remember trying them as a teenager. I’ve probably worn sunglasses less than an hour per year my whole life.
(I really do think it’s just a matter of getting used to the change, though. I feel the same way every ski season when I don my goggles – “I’m supposed to look through these things?” – but by the end of a day on the slopes, I don’t even notice I have them on, and everything seems crisp. Of course, when I take them off at the end of the day, I go, “Oh yeah! That’s what things are supposed to look like.”)
Exact opposite here. I live in a VERY bright snowy climate at high altitude. I’ll often where sunglasses when I’m driving to bring out contrasts. Even when the sun isn’t out and it’s snowing.
I’ll second (or third) that the quality of the sunglasses makes a big difference.
Bronze, amber or rose tints. magellan’s Maui Jim recommendation is a good one, although you don’t need to spend that much to get a decent pair of shades.
Although their lenses are hard to beat, you can get fairly good stuff for less. I was recommending them as more of a test. If he has the same problem he described with those lenses, he probably does need to see a doctor.
