Eyes hurt after the solar eclipse? Here’s what to know
(FOX40.COM) — Days after a solar eclipse was viewed by millions of people throughout the United States, some people fear there may be some damage done to their eyes.
• Video Above: Opthalmologist describes how to properly view the solar eclipse
“We kind of get a little nervous in the office when something like this happens,” Dr. Paymaun Asnaashari of Arden Park Optometry in Sacramento told FOX40.com. “The solar eclipse was a once in a lifetime opportunity for some, but as amazing as it is, it can still have harmful effects.”
Timelapse videos show total solar eclipse plunge U.S. cities into darkness
Experts issued several advisories about how to properly view the eclipse and avoid injury before it happened. After Monday’s celestial event, KTLA reported that the Google search for “eyes hurt” spiked. Although some people may have missed the safety memo, the damage done to a person’s eyes depends on how long a person looked up at the sun, according to Asnaashari.
“Think of it like like a sunburn. When a person is exposed to the sun for too long it can cause a temporary burn. The longer a person’s skin burns, the more damage is done,” Asnaashari said. “But unlike the skin, the eyes don’t have stem cells which help heal. The sun can destroy the eye cells that control vision, which is an irreversible loss.”
Asnaashari said the main condition to be on the lookout for is solar retinopathy which is permanent eye damage from sun.
“If a person experiences noticeable changes in vision that doesn’t improve, I would recommend to see an eye care professional,” Asnaashari said. “Retina damages requires a specific type of imaging to be able to see and diagnose it.”
On the bright side, Asnaashari said that if a person wore the proper protective gear while viewing the solar eclipse, their vision should go back to normal.
He added, “unless they bought something generic or something not up to standard for blocking U.V radiation, they are less likely to have permanent damage.”
Lyrid Meteor Shower on the horizon following Solar Eclipse
Symptoms of solar retinopathy
The most common cause of solar retinopathy happens from looking at the sun, which happens with sun-gazing or viewing a solar eclipse, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. The retina does not have pain receptors, so injury isn’t felt when it happens, but tell-tale signs occur within hours of the developed damage.
•“Blind spot” in one or both eyes (scotoma).
• Abnormal color vision (dyschromatopsia).
• Twisting or warping of the central vision (metamorphopsia)
• Seeing objects smaller than they actually are.
• Headaches
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Treatment for solar retinopathy
There isn’t a known treatment for solar retinopathy, according to AAPOS. Many people improve on their own between three and sox months without any treatment. Steroids have also reportedly been tried to improve and reverse symptoms, however, there is no proven effectiveness for solar retinopathy.
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