The Disturbing Eye Injury You Can Suffer If You Look Directly at a Solar Eclipse
A solar eclipse is one of nature’s most spectacular sights. As the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, daylight can briefly fade and the sky can take on an eerie appearance. But staring directly at the Sun during an eclipse can cause a serious eye injury—and the damage may occur before you realize anything is wrong.
The condition is commonly known as solar retinopathy, an injury to the retina caused by intense sunlight entering the eye.
Why an Eclipse Can Be Dangerous
The Sun remains extremely bright during most phases of a solar eclipse. Even when much of the Sun is covered, the remaining visible portion can produce enough concentrated light to damage sensitive retinal tissue.
The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Unlike the skin, it does not produce the same immediate pain response when exposed to damaging sunlight. That means a person can stare at the Sun without feeling an obvious warning while injury is occurring.
The danger is particularly deceptive because an eclipse can make people feel as though the Sun is safer to look at than it normally is.
