In the wake of this year’s Total Solar Eclipse, a wave of eye-related injuries has swept through regions along the path of totality. Despite repeated warnings from doctors and eye specialists, a concerning number of individuals chose to gaze directly at the eclipse without proper protection, leading to a surge in cases of eye pain and vision issues.
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a double board-certified doctor based in New York City, recounted the distressing influx of patients expressing fears of blindness after viewing the eclipse without safeguards. “I had several patients come in panicking saying ‘I don’t want to go blind,'” she disclosed to Fox News Digital. “I couldn’t believe it, people actually looked at the eclipse without protection.”
Experts had emphasized the importance of using solar eclipse glasses or other protective gear to shield the eyes from the sun’s harmful rays during the celestial event. However, despite these warnings, some individuals chose to ignore the advice, leading to unfortunate consequences.
The aftermath saw an uptick in Google searches for terms like “hurt eyes” and “why do my eyes hurt after the eclipse,” indicating a widespread concern over eye discomfort and potential damage. Dr. Nesheiwat explained that direct exposure to the sun during an eclipse can result in burns to the retina and damage to the macula, a critical part of the eye responsible for central vision.
Although data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding post-eclipse eye damage is unavailable, Dr. Nesheiwat treated numerous patients in Midtown Manhattan, including one individual who had gazed at the sun for an alarming 10 minutes, either directly or through a phone.
“The damage can be irreversible if the retina is severely affected by direct exposure to the sun without proper eye protection,” Dr. Nesheiwat cautioned. “Some people may experience milder symptoms if the exposure was brief.”
While the majority of eclipse viewers took precautions to safeguard their vision, there remains the possibility that some may have unwittingly used counterfeit or ineffective solar eclipse glasses, adding another layer of concern to the situation.
