The bizarre and upsetting issue plaguing Aussies who wear sunglasses: ‘Please tell us we’re not alone in this’

Hundreds have complained about feeling ‘overstimulated’, ‘confused’ and ‘disorientated’ every time they wear sunglasses – and are desperate to know why.

The strange phenomenon dubbed ‘eye prison’ by some has left those impacted wondering why this occurs. 

Roxana, from Germany, shared her struggle in a now-viral TikTok video, claiming she ‘can’t see’ while 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 shared their own experiences, with one woman claiming she feels ‘detached from the world’ when wearing sunglasses. 

‘I can’t focus,’ one wrote. 

‘Makes me feel claustrophobic,’ another added.  

‘No one has ever understood me when I say this,’ a third admitted. 

‘Can someone explain? Because same, girl,’ someone else said. 

‘The other day, I took my sunnies off just to smell my hair,’ one more added. 

Australian ophthalmologist Dr Jacqueline Beltz shared her expertise on the topic, explaining the link between sight and smell ‘isn’t completely understood’ but there is a connection.

Australian ophthalmologist Dr Jacqueline Beltz (pictured) shared her expertise on the topic

‘We do know that the brain relies on visual queues to process auditory information properly,’ Dr Beltz told FEMAIL.

‘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.’

At first the sunglasses issue might seem rare but the TikTok comments indicate it’s perhaps more common. 

‘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,’ Dr Beltz said.

She also suggests sunglasses can interfere with vision under certain circumstances.

Polarised lenses in sunglasses block out horizontal light rays, reducing the effect of glare from certain surfaces, such as water and roads. 

‘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 said.

‘Sometimes in these circumstances vision can be improved by adjusting the angle of the screen or increasing the brightness, or of course by taking off the polarised sunglasses.’

Research by Specsavers suggest people with lighter coloured eyes have a at higher risk of serious eye conditions including macular degeneration, cataracts and ocular melanoma caused by increased UV sensitivity.

‘We do know that the brain relies on visual queues to process auditory information properly,’ Dr Beltz told FEMAIL (stock image) 

Seeing an optometrist for an eye review would be highly recommended for anybody experiencing these sort of problems, or anybody aiming to improve their eyesight. 

Dr Beltz said some people might be suitable for laser vision correction or for other surgeries to reduce their dependency on glasses. 

‘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,’ she said.  

It’s recommended that adults over the age of 40 have an annual eye check. Anybody experiencing issues with their eyesight or comfort of their eyes should seek review sooner.