Looking at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can cause damage to the eyes, including "eclipse blindness" or retinal burns, also known as solar retinopathy. This occurs when solar radiation damages the eyes, and it can even lead to permanent blind spots or distortions in your vision. The damage can be temporary or permanent and occurs with no pain, and it can take a few hours to a few days after viewing the solar eclipse to realize the damage that has occurred.
The only way to safely look at the sun during an eclipse is with solar eclipse glasses that conform to a worldwide safety standard known as ISO 12312-2. Regular sunglasses or homemade solar filters are not safe for watching an eclipse because they transmit sunlight at a rate that is thousands of times too high.
According to experts, viewing the sun with your naked eye during the eclipse can burn your retina, damaging the images your brain can view. This phenomenon, known as “eclipse blindness,” can cause temporary or permanent vision impairment, and in worst-case scenarios can lead to legal blindness, which entails significant loss of vision. There are no immediate symptoms or pain associated with the damage, so its hard to know at the time if you’ve actually been afflicted with eclipse blindness.
To ensure your experience is injury-free, listen to NASA’s advisory and buy eclipse glasses, which block approximately 99.99% of light rays. When the glasses are on, NASA says, it is safe to look at the sun. It is also important to follow NASA’s instructions in using these glasses.
In summary, looking at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can cause damage to the eyes, including "eclipse blindness" or retinal burns, also known as solar retinopathy. The only way to safely look at the sun during an eclipse is with solar eclipse glasses that conform to a worldwide safety standard known as ISO 12312-2. Regular sunglasses or homemade solar filters are not safe for watching an eclipse because they transmit sunlight at a rate that is thousands of times too high.
