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.
