[nfbwatlk] question about wearing sunglasses

Tue Feb 12 03:57:10 UTC 2013

I personally choose to wear dark glasses. My parents didn't want me wearing them because of the blind stereotype. They also were of the mindset that it was important for other people to see my eyes for communication reasons. As for me, I found that they protected my eyes from glare. They also gave me protection from changing light. I have a condition that prevents my pupils from expanding and contracting at the rate they should. Therefore, sudden changes in lighting are very uncomfortable. On the cosmetic front,  I find that the glasses do help me with other people's reactions to my nystagmus. It's not that I'm ashamed of my nystagmus, it's just that I don't always want to talk about it. It's not the most interesting thing about me. Also, they seem to add a touch of color to my face as I can occasionally appear quite pale. They also seem to work for my personality. But, the main reason I wear glasses has to do with the glare and the lighting issues. The cosmetic stuff is just secondary.

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On Feb 11, 2013, at 2:56 PM, merribeth.manning at comcast.net wrote:

> 
> 
> As a partial, with no iris, I wear my sunglasses when it is to bright; even if it is indoors sometimes. 
> 
> Most of the time I don't wear them inside. 
> 
> My step-dad Ray would wear them when he was in public.  I never asked him why. 
> 
> I think it is probably a personal preference .  
> 
> I have grown up in the NFB and it seems like most totals don't wear them; but there are a few. 
> 
> Beth Manning 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: "Bennett Prows (HHS/OCR)" <Bennett.Prows at HHS.GOV> 
> To: " NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" < nfbwatlk @ nfbnet .org> 
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 12:10:06 PM 
> Subject: Re: [ nfbwatlk ] question about wearing sunglasses 
> 
> Nicely put, Marci. 
> 
> My folks used to have me wear glasses with clear lens in them. They didn't like the stereotypes associated with sun glasses, but I'm sure they wanted me to have attention drawn to my eyes.. When I was a kid, they told me the glasses would protect my remaining light perception in the eyes from things I could run into like bushes, etc. 
> 
> AS an adult, I took them off for many years. When I wanted a different look some years ago, I got some new clear lens glasses, and got more grief from blind folks than sighted about my wanting to look good with the cosmetic glasses. ... Nevertheless, I only wear them now as part of a costume. 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: nfbwatlk [ mailto : nfbwatlk -bounces@ nfbnet .org] On Behalf Of mjc59 at q.com 
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 12:02 PM 
> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List 
> Subject: Re: [ nfbwatlk ] question about wearing sunglasses 
> 
> I have some movement in my eyes, so even though i can see people I don't make eye contact. For me, I would feel like wearing sunglasses would be hiding behind something and also catering to sighted people's stereotypes about blindness; that my eyes are somehow ugly and must not be seen by others. I believe that the way I carry myself and speak to others conveys who I am. Sighted people who are that hung up about eye contact will always find something to be uncomfortable about being around a blind person. I bought a T-shirt at state convention that sums in up, at least for me. It has the eye chart numbers in 2 columns on either side, and the words in the middle say (in smaller and smaller print as you look farther down) "I am who I am. Your approval is not needed" 
> 
> When a sighted person does bring up the issue of eye contact I am not rude. I just say something like "Yes, my eyes do look different." I might tell them that I know someone is nearby because I can hear them moving or their breathing. Then I move the conversation to another subject. 
> 
> Well, that's my perspective on the matter. You are a beautiful person, Lauren and as Dr. Jernigan always said; It is respectable to be blind. I hope we get to see each other again sometime. 
> 
> Marci 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kaye Kipp" <kkipp123@ gmail .com> 
> To: " NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" < nfbwatlk @ nfbnet .org> 
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 6:19:28 AM 
> Subject: Re: [ nfbwatlk ] question about wearing sunglasses 
> 
> Well, I have the same issue with my eyes.  They're usually half closed, but 
> I don't want to wear sunglasses. 
> 
> Kaye 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Lauren Merryfield " <lauren1@ catliness .com> 
> To: " NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" < nfbwatlk @ nfbnet .org> 
> Cc: " NFB of California List" <nfbc-info@ nfbnet .org> 
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 2:39 AM 
> Subject: [ nfbwatlk ] question about wearing sunglasses 
> 
> 
>> Hi, 
>> I know this may seem odd, but it would be interesting, and possibly 
>> helpful, to get some feedback about the pros and cons of blind people 
>> wearing sunglasses.  I know that a long time ago, Dr. Jernigan wrote a 
>> piece about it but I haven't been able to locate it. 
>> 
>> In my case, my original eyes were very weird--the right one was enlarged 
>> and purplish in color.  My left one was small and sunken in.  Kids used to 
>> comment on them or ask me about them.  As an adult, I wore sunglasses. 
>> 
>> I eventually had both of my eyes removed due to very painful glaucoma.  So 
>> then I had pretty, blue eyes.  I had the unusual opportunity of choosing 
>> my eye color.  So I figured that meant I didn't need to wear sunglasses 
>> anymore.  I also felt kind of like I was hiding behind the sunglasses. 
>> 
>> But most of the time, my eyes are half-opened or half-closed, whichever 
>> way one wants to think about it--like the glass being half full or half 
>> empty.  Some people assume I am asleep, unapproachable, or withdrawn 
>> because my eyes are not wide opened. 
>> 
>> So now I am wondering if I ought to wear sunglasses again.  I could try it 
>> just to see if sighted people respond better to me or not. 
>> 
>> I know I do not have good eye contact and that seems to bother some 
>> sighted people. 
>> 
>> Well, there's some food for thought.  Yeah, I know, I always get back to 
>> the subject of food, hahaha . 
>> Thanks 
>> Lauren 
>> 
>> advice from my cats: "meow when you feel like it." 
>> The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be 
>> understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them. 
>> -- Ralph Nichols 
>> Visit us at catliness .com 
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