Anxiety spikes over eye health after solar eclipse. But symptoms may not be what you think
After hundreds of thousands of people across Indianapolis stared at the solar eclipse, gathering at the Speedway, White River State Park, backyards and parking lots, anxiety about eye health went sky high.
People started searching why their eyes hurt on social media and search engines, wondering if the experience had affected their eyes. While such fears came as no surprise to eye doctors, they say looking at an eclipse — especially because most people take proper precautions with special glasses — only rarely leads to injuries. When injury occurs, it may take a few days or even weeks before doctors can diagnose it.
More: Did you miss the solar eclipse? Here's when you can see another (but it won't be as good)
Eye pain or discomfort is unlikely a sign of eclipse injury, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. That's because the retina, the area of the eye susceptible to sun damage, doesn't have pain nerves.
Instead, people should look for symptoms like blurry vision, headache, a blind spot in one or both eyes, distorted vision, increased sensitivity to light or changes in the way they see color, according to the organization. So far, the region's large health networks have not reported patients with eclipse-related complaints in their emergency rooms.
Eclipse blindness is very rare, said Dr. Chris Browning, an optometrist who owns VisionQuest Eyecare in Greenwood and Fishers. The most susceptible people are children who haven't learned and people suffering mental illness.
One patient sought treatment in Browning's Greenwood eye clinic, but it was more likely anxiety than anything else, he said.
"It creates more anxiety," said Browning. "If their glasses slip, they think they're going to lose their vision. It takes some time to discern the burn mark."
Binghui Huang can be reached at 317-385-1595 or Bhuang@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Eye damage from the eclipse: Symptoms and what to watch for
