Recommendations for very dark sunglasses after cataract surgery light sensitivity

[TheThirteenthFairy]

After cataract surgery on both eyes a few years ago, I am incredibly sensitive to sunlight. The darkest lenses from Specsavers are useless. I got the darkest glasses I could find on Amazon (not really bothered about what they look like by this time) and they're pretty good but I need darker still. I wondered if sunglasses people wear while skiing might be what I need, but I know nothing about brands to look out for. Can anyone point me in a direction that might help please?

I’ve got these from Polaroid and they are pretty dark.
https://en.polaroideyewear.com/products/209460

Same surgery and I'm still very light sensitive years later. Lifelong wearer of Rayban Wayfarers and they really do help.

Thank you, but these would be far too pale.

Many sports brands do sunglasses designed for glacier travel/ ski ing, usually described as Category Four or above. You cant drive in them but otherwise they will look fine, but will be sporty wrap round styles rather than fashion styles. If you are on a budget try Decathlon in the first instance.

You need to click in the black pair

I shall look at Decathlon. I am on a budget but would abandon it at once for the right glasses.

I've ordered Decathlon category 4. I had no idea there were categories - thank you.

You don’t necessarily need very dark glasses, you need polarised ones. They “flatten” the light rather than just darken it and that seems to work best for my light sensitivity. I have brown lenses. That’s why sports glasses work, because they are usually polarised. They are great for driving too. I swear by RayBanP. Worth every penny

Thank you - this is new to me.

DH quite often has to have his eyes (which are sensitive anyway) dilated for eye tests/imaging. He’s got prescription darks in the darkest ok for driving but has some clip ons he can layer on (photo with the name etc attached). And the other thing of course is to wear a peaked or large brimmed hat, that helps cut out a lot of light which gets in round the edges (wrap round styles obviously help with that too).

You have my sympathy - I hurt an eye last year and it was extraordinarily photosensitive, causing excruciating pain. For a few days I had to wear an eye patch and sunglasses over the other eye too even inside in daylight! Which obviously isn’t very practical long term (thankfully it’s healed) but I think people often don’t understand how much some people need eye protection.

Thank you.

Thank you everyone for being so helpful. The Decathlon Cat 4s arrived in two days and have made an unbelievable difference. I walked around, pausing to take them off, squint and put them back on. They are mirrored, and due to my advanced age I thought I'd feel deeply wanky Top Gun wearing them - and I did, but only for half a second! Not being blinded by the sun helped. I am saving up for Raybans.

It’s not a question of how pale the lenses are but how much light they let through. You obviously need Polaroid lenses. An optician should be able to advise.