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How to tell if the solar eclipse damaged your eyes

  • [아시아뉴스통신] Timothy Montales 기자
  • 송고시간 2019-01-17 16:05
  • 뉴스홈 > 국제
Photo by: che via Wikimedia Commons
 

Thousands of people came out to watch the recent solar eclipse. Schools were closed, traffic was the order of the day, as everyone hurried to catch a glimpse of the eclipse. The discussion, however, is: Did you have the right gear to watch the sun? Did the solar eclipse create any damages to your vision and how will you rule it out?


How do you know you have damaged your eyes?

Doctors and researchers say that it would take 12 hours for someone to notice the differences from the eye damage caused.  The chances of eye damage are tremendously high. Even a fraction of a second of bare viewing of the eclipse could cause the damage.  These damages could be permanent or temporary depending on the extent of viewing.


If one viewed the sun through the display of their gadgets, either the camera or the phone, they are safe. This is because they only saw a reflection of the sensor’s view but not the exact optical radiation from the eclipse. If for even a split second one forgot to use their lenses, they were exposed to permanent damage.


What are the symptoms to expect if one did not protect their eyes when viewing the sun?

Twelve hours after viewing the sun is when symptoms would start showing, The first symptom would be lack of proper vision. When waking up in the morning, the patient would realize the change in vision.


Blurred vision could be permanent or temporary. This would be caused by the damage of the eye, where a single blind spot or several blind spots will be created at the back of the eyes. Half of the time, these blind spots are permanent, according to Dr. Chou, a head optometrist in New York. The vision might improve within six months to a year if one is lucky, continued Dr. Chou.
 


Photo by: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Darlene Seltmann via Wikimedia Commons

What to do if one suspects eye damage from the eclipse?

The first step is to see a doctor. Search for the nearest optometrist in your area and book an appointment. If he or she records any damage to your eyes, they will refer you to an ophthalmologist, who will conduct further tests.


If there is significant damage, the doctor will know what prescription would best suit you. It will also be advisable to ensure you have the right protective anti-glare glasses when going out or when using laptops and your phone. Adjust the brightness on your devices to ensure your eyes are comfortable when you use them.


In the case of no damage, several people report discomforts in their eyes after using the lenses to view the eclipse, according to a survey done by Michigan optics. In this case, it is advisable to stay indoors and let your eyes adjust accordingly.


The thing that causes the discomfort after using the lenses is that you are stimulating one set of color receptors at the back of your eye. The receptors for other colors in your eye will have more work load in loading one color set. The effect will result in your eyes bringing up the same image in your eyes for a while. This is similar to what happens when you view a bright flash light for a while.


This, however, does not mean your eyes are damaged. The image effect will only last for a couple of minutes, depending on the amount of time you viewed the eclipse. You will have to stare directly at a bright light for up to 30 minutes for any damage to occur.