The solar eclipse was beautiful and all, but did you protect yourself to watch it? Unfortunately, despite the repeated warnings to protect themselves while observing this beautiful astronomical event, some ignored it, and shortly after it ended, they began seeking answers to the pain in their eyes.
Several days before the eclipse, instructions were circulated through various media channels to enjoy it without harming one’s health, as directly observing the Sun can cause eye problems, including, in the worst-case scenario, temporary or permanent blindness. Hence, it’s surprising the number of searches recorded on Google Trends about eye pain or burning after viewing the solar eclipse.
How To Tell if I Damaged My Eyes After Watching the Eclipse?
If your eyes hurt after watching the eclipse, you should consider seeing a specialist. The Social Security Office indicated that the primary symptom of eye damage from directly viewing the Sun without any protection is the appearance of a central spot or distortion in central vision.
“If this symptom persists for 24 to 48 hours, one should seek an ophthalmological evaluation, where the specialist will make a diagnosis and determine, if necessary, to perform optical coherence tomography scans, both of the optic nerve and the ganglion cells,” the statement released by the Institute reads.
It also detailed that permanent blindness can occur in individuals who directly view the sun for extended periods without any protection, and after 24 or 48 hours, central blindness may be sustained. Other symptoms you may experience from viewing the solar eclipse without protection include:
- Blurry vision
- Blind spot in the center of vision in both eyes
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Visual distortion in both eyes
- Changes in color perception (dyschromatopsia)
It’s best to consult a specialist if you experience any of these symptoms.
This story was written in Spanish by Nayeli Párraga in Cultura Colectiva.
