A2oz

What happens if you look at the sun for 10 seconds?

Published in Health 2 mins read

Looking directly at the sun for even a short period of time can cause sunburn to your retinas, a condition known as solar retinopathy. This can lead to temporary or permanent vision loss.

Here's why:

  • The sun emits intense light and UV radiation.
  • Your eyes are not designed to handle such high levels of light.
  • The sun's rays can damage the delicate cells in your retina, causing inflammation and even cell death.

While 10 seconds might seem like a short amount of time, it's enough to cause harm. The longer you look at the sun, the more severe the damage.

Symptoms of solar retinopathy can include:

  • Blurry vision
  • Difficulty seeing in low light
  • A blind spot in your central vision
  • Distorted vision

It's important to remember that solar retinopathy is often painless, so you might not even realize you've been injured.

To protect your eyes from the sun:

  • Never look directly at the sun, even for a short period of time.
  • Wear sunglasses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays.
  • Use a solar viewer or eclipse glasses to safely observe solar eclipses.

If you experience any vision problems after looking at the sun, seek medical attention immediately.

Related Articles