Should we avoid wearing sunglasses?

Wearing sunglasses, especially during peak sunlight hours, can significantly reduce the amount of light reaching your retina, potentially impacting your circadian rhythm and overall light exposure. Sunglasses can filter out too much light, causing a substantial reduction in the total lux (a measure of light intensity) that hits your retina. This can be a concern because sufficient light exposure is crucial for setting our body’s natural rhythms and for general health [1].

However, sunglasses play a crucial role in specific situations. For instance, they are essential for comfort and eye protection while driving into the sun or for individuals with particularly sensitive eyes, which might be influenced by factors like genetic background and eye color. Also, at times when sunlight is excessively bright, which can be uncomfortable or harmful, wearing sunglasses can protect against potential damage from UV rays [1].

In conclusion, while it's important to allow substantial natural light to reach your eyes for health reasons, sunglasses are beneficial and sometimes necessary to protect against uncomfortably intense light or when UV protection is needed.