Roy Orbison wore sunglasses mainly due to practical reasons linked to his eyesight. He suffered from poor vision since childhood and had to wear thick corrective lenses. The iconic sunglasses image began accidentally when he left his regular glasses on a plane before a concert and had only his dark prescription sunglasses with him. Since he couldn't see well without glasses, he had to perform wearing the sunglasses, which then became part of his signature look after his high-profile tour with The Beatles, where photos were taken of him wearing the shades. Additionally, some sources mention he may have had sensitivity to light (photophobia), making sunglasses more comfortable for him during public appearances and performances. Thus, what started as a necessity and a bit of an accident evolved into a defining visual trademark of Roy Orbison throughout his career.