After solar eclipse, concerns about eye injuries appear to rise

After the total solar eclipse on Monday, Google searches about “hurt eyes” spiked. Here's what to know about eye injuries that can result from looking at the sun.

Google searches about “hurt eyes” spiked Monday afternoon, just after many U.S. communities experienced the total solar eclipse. 

The searches suggest some people in the sun’s path were worried they’d glanced at it too long. 

It’s a valid concern, eye experts said. Looking at the sun without protective equipment can harm your vision, and complaints of eye issues have been documented after past eclipse events. However, cases of long-term damage after eclipses aren’t common.

In addition, hurting eyes aren’t the best indicator of a severe problem: Injuries from “solar retinopathy,” when light injures retinas, occur without immediate pain. 

Google trendsTwo main types of injuries are possible from looking at the sun — a burn to the outside of the eye and damage to nerve tissue within. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/solar-eclipse-eye-injuries-worries-rcna146932

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