Why Roy Orbison Wears Dark Glasses
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00:00It was often assumed that Orbison was secretly blind or even that he was an albino, but neither
00:05was true.
00:06Orbison did have very poor vision, and he was prescribed thick lenses as a child.
00:10He had several eye issues, including astigmatism, strabismus, and hyperopia.
00:15So, even as he became an adult and a famous musician, he'd been wearing glasses his
00:20entire life.
00:21However, the sunglasses look came about by happenstance.
00:24He was touring in England at the time, and he had intended to bring with him his normal
00:28glasses as well as some prescription sunglasses for general outdoor use.
00:33But he accidentally left his regular glasses on a plane in the U.S. right before he was
00:37slated to leave for the tour in the U.K.
00:40He then arrived in England, and the press took photos of him as he left the plane.
00:45It was assumed that he wore the sunglasses to look cool, so that was the image that stuck.