Table of Contents
Yes. Looking directly at the Sun without proper eye protection can damage the retina, including during a partial solar eclipse. This damage is known as solar retinopathy and can sometimes result in permanent vision problems. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the National Eye Institute warn against looking directly at the Sun without appropriate solar viewing protection.
However, eye pain by itself is not a typical sign of solar retinopathy. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, retinal damage from an eclipse is unlikely to cause pain or discomfort because the retina does not have pain nerves. This means retinal injury can occur without immediate pain.
The National Eye Institute also notes that symptoms of solar retinopathy may not appear immediately and can develop over hours or days.
What Are the Symptoms of Eclipse Eye Damage?
The most important thing to watch for is a change in your vision, particularly if you looked directly at the Sun without adequate protection.
Possible symptoms of solar retinopathy include:
- Blurred or fuzzy central vision
- A dark or blind spot in the center of your vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Changes in color perception
The National Eye Institute lists these among the possible symptoms of solar retinopathy. Symptoms may not appear immediately after exposure and can develop gradually over hours or days.
I Looked at the Eclipse Without Glasses. What Should I Do?
If you looked directly at the Sun without proper protection, don’t rely on pain, or the absence of pain, to judge whether your eyes were injured. Solar retinopathy can occur without causing pain. Instead, pay attention to any new or persistent changes in your vision.
If you develop the vision changes described above, contact an eye-care professional promptly for an examination. Symptoms of solar retinopathy may not appear immediately and can develop over hours or days.
If your main symptoms are pain, redness, tearing, or a gritty feeling in your eyes, these can occur with photokeratitis, a UV-related injury to the cornea sometimes described as “sunburned eyes.”
In brief,
“My eyes hurt after the eclipse” does not necessarily mean you have damaged your retina. Solar retinopathy can occur after looking directly at the Sun without proper protection, but it is unlikely to cause pain. Instead, watch for new changes in vision, such as blurred or fuzzy central vision, a blind spot, increased sensitivity to light, or changes in color perception.
If you develop these symptoms after viewing the eclipse, have your eyes examined by an eye-care professional promptly.
For future solar eclipses, never look directly at the Sun during the partial phases without proper solar-viewing protection. Ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient.
References:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) — Think You Hurt Your Eyes Watching the Eclipse?
- National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) — How to watch an eclipse, safely