Everyone is still wowed by the total solar eclipse that was seen over North America on Monday. But have you heard of solar retinopathy? It is damage to the eyes that could have happened to someone who looked at the eclipse without the use of those special glasses, even for just a few seconds.
NBC News reported that Google searches for “hurt eyes” spiked Monday afternoon after the eclipse. It’s easier to look directly at the sun during an eclipse, but the light that can damage the eye is just as strong and can cause harm in just a few seconds.
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Solar retinopathy is a condition that damages your retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye, from looking directly at the sun or other bright lights. The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) light, which can damage the retina over time.
Symptoms of solar retinopathy can include blurry vision, central scotoma (a blind spot in your central vision), distorted vision (straight lines appearing wavy), decreased color vision, pain in the eye(s), and light sensitivity. Solar retinopathy is usually painless and most people only experience temporary vision problems. However, in severe cases, solar retinopathy can cause permanent vision loss.
However, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, if your eyes feel a little funny after an eclipse, it may not be a sign of solar retinopathy. “Damage from the eclipse is unlikely to cause pain or discomfort in your eyes because the retina does not have any pain nerves. Instead, you would notice visual symptoms within four to six hours,” it explains. But some may notice symptoms after 12 hours.
Unfortunately, according to the Academy there is no treatment for solar retinopathy. But it is important to see your ophthalmologist if you experience difficulties with your vision. An ophthalmologist will take a scan of the eye to see the extent of any damage. Many people recover after three to six months, but some will suffer from permanent vision loss, in the form of a small blind spot and distortion.
