why did roy orbison wear dark glasses

Roy Orbison wore dark glasses primarily because of poor eyesight. He had severe vision problems and needed thick corrective lenses but accidentally started wearing dark sunglasses on a 1963 UK tour after leaving his regular glasses on a plane. He had to perform wearing the dark prescription sunglasses and, after appearing publicly with the Beatles while wearing them, chose to keep the look as it became part of his iconic image. Orbison also had sensitivity to light (photophobia), which made the sunglasses more comfortable to wear. The dark glasses became a signature part of his style rather than just a practical necessity. In summary, the dark glasses were both a necessity due to eyesight issues and a fashion statement born out of circumstance and reinforced by public appearances.