We learn a lot about a person by looking at their eyes. There is so much subtlety of emotion in the space just around the eyes.
There are seven distinct groups of muscles in the area around the eyes. And even very slight and subtle uses of those muscles can convey a tremendous amount of meaning — whether intended or not.
When somebody is wearing sunglasses, much of that information is hidden. We simply can’t “read” people as well when they are sporting shades.
In the future, extended reality eyewear will likely become commonplace, and it will likely look a lot like sunglasses. Which means that for much of the time, we won’t be able to read people’s faces as well to catch subtleties of emotion and intent.
I wonder whether taking off your XR glasses will end up become a sort of social signal of emotional intimacy. Perhaps you will only show your actual eyes to people you trust, and the ability to hide your naked eyes from strangers will become a fundamental right of privacy, perhaps enshrined into law.