Looking at the sun, even during an eclipse, without proper eye protection can cause serious damage to your eyes, a condition called solar retinopathy. This damage can happen quickly, and you may not even feel any pain at the time.
The sun's harmful rays, even during an eclipse, can burn the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye. This burning can cause blurry vision, blind spots, and even permanent vision loss.
During a solar eclipse, it might seem safe to look at the sun because it's partially blocked. However, the sun's rays are still incredibly powerful and can damage your eyes even when you're looking at the eclipsed sun for a short time.
To protect your eyes, always use certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. These glasses block out 99.999% of the sun's harmful rays.
Important Note: Never use regular sunglasses, homemade filters, or other non-certified materials to look at the sun. These items do not provide sufficient protection and can actually make the damage worse.
