Many watchers of today' s solar eclipse may have glanced at the sun without proper eye protection. But how do you know if you' ve hurt your eyes?
Many watchers of today’s solar eclipse may have glanced at the sun without proper eye protection, if only for a brief moment. This can be dangerous, as looking directly at the sun can cause eye damage, but how do you know if you’ve hurt your eyes?
The solar eclipse wowed viewers across the United States today (Aug. 21) as it passed from the West to the East coast. As millions tried to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, many may have taken a peak without proper eye protection, either intentionally or by accident. Even President Donald Trump was photographed apparently looking sunward at the eclipse without eye protection.
Experts stress you should not look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, including special eclipse glasses or solar viewers. That’s because looking directly at the sun, even for a short period, can cause damage to the eye’s retina — condition is known as solar retinopathy. The damage occurs in the fovea, a spot in the retina that is responsible for sharp, central vision, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) .
There’s no amount of time that’s considered „safe“ for looking at the sun without proper eye protection, said Dr. Neil Bressler, a professor of ophthalmology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Even looking for a few seconds could cause damage, and the longer you stare, the higher your chances of experiencing damage, Bressler said. [Photos: 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse]
Symptoms of solar retinopathy can occur within hours of looking at the sun. According to a paper published in 2001 by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in the United Kingdom, symptoms typically show up about 12 hours after the viewing event.
These symptoms can include:
People who experience discomfort or vision problems after an eclipse should visit an eye doctor for an eye exam, according to the American Optometric Association.
Forutnately, many people with solar retinopathy recover from their symptoms, but some have lasting vision problems. For example, in a 2002 study, out of 15 patients in England with solar retinopathy from viewing an eclipse in 1999, all but two had normal vision in an eye exam 8 to 12 months later. Still, even some patients with normal vision in an eye test had subtle eye symptoms, such as a small blind spot in their vision.
Original article on Live Science .
