Wearing non-medical glasses in Parakou : Between fashion and necessity

Fashion in Parakou at the end of the year 2020, it is also the wearing of non-medical glasses…. Is there a risk associated with this trend ?

Hervé Rodrigue ANAGO

" Glasses… I wear them and, as you can see, I have them now, and it's just for fashion. I say fashion, because when I wear them I find myself pretty. And it makes you very beautiful, especially when you're a woman and you ride a motorcycle.", said Nadiath Eyo, a young lady proud of her clothing accessory, met in Titirou in the first district of the city of Koburu. When they are well dressed, many parakois girls wear glasses, according to her, to gain value.

So, the same trend is also observed among men of a certain age group. This is also confirmed by Ricardo Worou, a pedestrian visibly proud of his sunglasses. " Really … glasses, I like to wear them to be fashionable. When I see a model different from the one I have on me, I have to buy it immediately. They increase my charm and they bring me a lot of luck with young ladies… »

However, not all young people in Parakou wear non-medical glasses for their charm, but rather out of necessity. Daniel Abou, thirties, claims to want to "protect against dust, mist and wind" and spare his eyes from certain affections.

Indeed, several other reasons for wearing glasses not prescribed by ophthalmologists. Among these is the need to protect yourself against the weather and the sun's rays.. It also happens that some adopt these glasses to hide or reduce an unsightly situation in the face..

Besides, is there, risks associated with this choice ? Martial Kindjinou, doctor-ophthalmologist in service at the Departmental University Hospital Center (CHUD) Ouémé-Plateau, explains in a daily newspaper published in Cotonou that wearing glasses, even non-medical, can be quite beneficial. “We can wear glasses because the eyes, at a certain time, can no longer withstand daylight or strong sunlight… Glasses can also be worn as part of personal protection at work… If the glasses worn by young people and adults have an indication, regardless of this indication, the problem does not arise », he explains.