Solar Eclipse Eye Damage Isn’t Always Obvious

Despite the numerous stern warnings discussing the dangers of staring directly at the recent solar eclipse, many people still failed to take the proper precautions. The failure to heed warnings may have resulted in permanent damage to the retina, but this damage may be subtle.

Staring at a solar eclipse without protection doesn’t necessarily cause a “burning” of the retina. Instead, what’s happening is the rays of the sun release free radicals into the retina, causing damage that may not make itself known until several hours later.

According to a recent article published on the CBS New York website, a woman learned this the hard way when she stared at the sun for a mere thirty seconds using glasses she thought were safe only to experience symptoms such as blurred central vision and color distortion several hours later. After being evaluated by a retinal specialist, the woman’s fovea was indeed damaged. The fovea is the part of the retina responsible for providing sharp, detailed vision.

Remember: there is no specific treatment for alleviating retinal damage. Though vision may improve over time, there remains a strong risk of permanent vision loss. If you’re seeing spots or feeling eye discomfort since the eclipse, you may want to pay a visit to your eye doctor.

This information is presented by Retina Macula Specialists of Miami, the largest private retina practice in the city. We are a nationally acclaimed retina practice dedicated to the medical and surgical management of vitreoretinal diseases. Each of our extensively trained doctors are Diplomates of the American Board of Ophthalmology and are highly qualified to treat a wide variety of retinal conditions including but not limited to diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage treatment macular problems, age-related macular degeneration, and CSR. We have three convenient locations in Miami, Coral Gables, and North Miami Beach. For contact information or to request an appointment, please visit https://www.retinamaculamiami.com.