Fear of blindness spikes post-solar eclipse

Gazing directly at the sun during a solar eclipse can seriously harm your eyes, potentially leading to permanent vision loss by damaging the retina.

To safely watch a solar eclipse, it’s crucial to use specialized solar viewing glasses. These glasses are equipped with filters that protect against harmful ultraviolet and infrared rays, enabling safe observation of the eclipse.

Despite these warnings, many in New York City did not use protective eyewear during the total solar eclipse on April 8, leading to a spike in eye-related complaints at a local medical facility and a surge in online searches about eye discomfort.

Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a double board-certified doctor in New York City, reported treating numerous patients concerned about vision loss. “I had several patients come in panicking saying ‘I don’t want to go blind,'” Nesheiwat said to a western media outlet. “I couldn’t believe it, people actually looked at the eclipse without protection.”

It’s important to note that regular sunglasses do not offer adequate protection for viewing a solar eclipse as they cannot filter out the intense brightness of the sun effectively, which can still result in eye damage.

Dr. Nesheiwat highlighted the risks involved, including retinal burns and damage to the macula, the part of the retina that is critical for central vision. She attended to many such cases, although national statistics on eye injuries post-eclipse are not available.

“The damage can be irreversible if the retina is severely damaged by looking directly at the sun without proper eye protection,” warned Dr. Nesheiwat.

After the eclipse, searches like “hurt eyes” and “why do my eyes hurt after the eclipse” became popular on Google, indicating widespread concern about eye health following unsafe eclipse viewing practices.