Eyes can hurt after an eclipse due to direct exposure to intense sunlight without protection, which can cause irritation of the retina and temporary vision problems.
Directly observing the sun during an eclipse often causes a burn to the eye's tissues, known as solar retinopathy. Sunlight, even during a near-total eclipse, sends out ultraviolet (UV) and infrared rays that your eye simply cannot handle. This intense radiation directly attacks your retina and risks causing permanent damage. And the worst part is that the eclipse gives you the deceptive impression that looking directly at the sun is safe, as the brightness temporarily decreases, but the danger remains very real. Just a few seconds can be enough to permanently damage your vision.
The eyes are not meant to directly endure the powerful rays of the sun. When you look at an eclipse without protection, the ultraviolet (UV) rays and the intense brightness of the sun burn the sensitive cells at the back of the eye, on the retina. This area is essential because it captures the images seen to send them to the brain. When overexposed, it suffers a kind of internal sunburn called solar retinopathy, which can cause irreversible damage and impair your vision. The effects depend on the duration of exposure and the intensity of the rays, but they are real and potentially serious.
After a prolonged exposure without protection during an eclipse or in front of the sun, the eyes can suffer from what is called an ocular solar burn or solar keratitis. Typically, you feel an uncomfortable sensation of sand in the eyes or burning. You may also experience a strong sensitivity to light, which can be hard to tolerate. In some cases, vision becomes hazy or blurred, and you may have difficulty distinguishing objects clearly. Headaches can appear quickly after exposure, along with unusual tearing. These symptoms, often painful but generally temporary, can last from a few hours to several days depending on the severity of the exposure. But if the symptoms persist or worsen, it is clear that you need to consult a specialist quickly.
During an eclipse, looking directly at the sun, even later on, is downright dangerous. Always wear eclipse glasses, which are special filter glasses that block almost all harmful sunlight. Forget about regular sunglasses; they are ineffective at protecting your eyes during this phenomenon. If you want to observe the event differently, use indirect techniques instead, like projecting the sun onto a surface through a small hole in a cardboard—simple, safe, and clever. Also, remember not to look for too long even with protection: short observations are better to avoid unnecessary strain and risks to your eyes.
Classic sunglasses generally do not provide sufficient protection for the eyes against solar radiation during an eclipse; it is essential to choose special glasses certified to ISO 12312-2.
Galileo himself is said to have suffered from permanent visual disturbances due to prolonged observation of the sun, demonstrating as early as the 17th century the importance of wearing proper protection during solar observation.
There is a phenomenon called 'solar retinopathy,' which occurs when the sensitive cells of the retina are damaged due to intense exposure to UV rays, particularly common after observing an eclipse without protection.
Even a partially cloudy sky or a partial eclipse can pose a risk to the eyes. Indeed, clouds or partial obscuration do not completely block the harmful UV rays from the sun.
Retinal damage caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight is generally irreversible, as damaged photoreceptor cells do not regenerate. However, some partial improvements may occur over time due to the brain's natural adaptations.
No, ordinary sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection for directly observing an eclipse. Only glasses specifically designed with a certified solar filter can ensure adequate protection against eye damage.
The initial symptoms of an eye injury due to excessive sun exposure include eye pain, a prolonged sensation of glare, the appearance of dark or blurry spots in the visual field, as well as blurry or distorted vision.
No, observing an eclipse through indirect projection (for example, using the pinhole technique or a telescope with projection) is completely safe, as the image of the sun is projected indirectly without your eyes being directly exposed to solar radiation.
Just a few seconds can be enough to seriously damage the retina if one looks directly at the sun during an eclipse without proper protection. Retinal damage may appear within hours or days following the reckless observation.
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