By Maxwell Okamafo Addo, former Presidential Press Corps member, Mills/Mahama
The White House has seen many sunglasses, from Joe Biden’s Ray-Ban 3025 to John F. Kennedy’s AO Saratoga and Lyndon B. Johnson’s expansive collection. If you have noticed, some presidents have sunglasses that feature polarized lenses.
You may already know that it’s important to get sunglasses that protect against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. But what are polarized sunglasses? In Africa, because of primitive ideas and politics, we tend to think otherwise.
Like President Rawlings, Kufour Mills Mahama has used polarized sunglasses. Some are made with special lenses that reduce the glare caused by reflected light on horizontal surfaces from camera Flashes. Polarized lenses can be found in both nonprescription and prescription sunglasses.
You may not think of glare as hazardous, but in some cases, it can be. Wearing polarized glasses minimizes glare, reduces eye strain, and can help you make out details more clearly. A lot of people ask why some heads of State like wearing sunglasses. An example is President Mahama Sunglasses’ opposition to NPP, associating it with negativity. From My personal experience as a member of the Presidential Press Corps for 8 years. I realized that it was not easy for most heads of State to sleep at Night, like the welding shades. The heads of State are the most photographed personalities in the country. Most camera flashes cause a lot of difficulties for them daily especially when they want to take a nap.
It’s like standing near a welding machine without protective glasses. The flashes and pain they go through in the night when they sleep. How much more does the President receive visitors daily? Visitors always want opportunities to take photographs with the subject and imagine these on a daily basis. Certain types of UV radiation can produce an injury to the surface and mucous membrane (conjunctiva) of the eye called “arc eye,” “welders’ eye,” or “arc flash.” These names are common names for “conjunctivitis,” – an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the front of the eye. The symptoms include: a sensation of “sand in the eye,” abnormal sensitivity to the inability to look at light sources (photophobia)
The amount of time required to cause these effects depends on several factors, such as the intensity of the radiation, the distance from the welding arc or camera light, the angle at which the radiation enters the eye, and the type of eye protection that the welder or bystander is using. Like Camera flashes, some are very powerful.
However, exposure to just a few seconds of intense UV light can cause an arc eye. These symptoms may not be felt until several hours after exposure. Presidents suffer more because they are exposed to UV light every day, which can produce cataracts in some persons. Exposure to infrared light can heat the lens of the eye and produce cataracts over the long term. There is sufficient evidence in humans that ultraviolet radiation can cause ocular melanoma (a type of eye cancer Hence the need for most Presidents around the world to protect their eyes.
These days, most Presidents around the world prefer a few cameramen or women who will distribute quality Pictures instead of multiple cameras with multiple flashes. Visible light from camera flash processes is very bright and can overwhelm the ability of the eye’s iris to close sufficiently and rapidly enough to limit the brightness of the light reaching the retina. The result is that the light is temporarily blinding and fatiguing to the eye. Hence, sleeping at night becomes difficult.
There’s ample evidence that some heads of state get less than seven hours of sleep per night, which can wreak havoc on your brain. But not everyone has the luxury of sleeping soundly through the night because of camera flashes. My late Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, complained to me that he faced similar problems. President Mills did the same; he didn’t like camera flashes at all.
To be sure, some people can get by on four hours or so of sleep without suffering serious consequences. Independence Square incidents with accreditation with Camera men are always managed by program coordinators. Just imagine a national ceremony where about 400 cameramen and women can take pictures at close range. There will be doom. Around the world, why do Secret Service agents wear dark sunglasses?”
Commonly Used Equipment
People engaged in the Secret Service often wear sunglasses. Most sunglasses are also significant; the uniform sunglasses make them more eye-catching.
To protect their eyes
Wearing sunglasses can protect them from windy weather. Take a look at these security men standing guard right behind the President every day or ordering dignitaries they are guarding; they seem to be standing still in their black sunglasses; they are constantly looking out for any form of threat. Their eyes sweep the area constantly. The glasses offer an advantage since any rogue elements can’t be sure where they are looking, and hence, they cannot avoid their area of vision. We need to, as a matter of urgency, protect ourselves from misinformation.