Solar eclipse eye damage urgent warning as expert lists symptoms to look out for

Solar eclipse eye damage urgent warning as expert lists symptoms to look out for The solar eclipse was a spectacular event, but eye health experts warn of a genuine risk of solar retinopathy for those who looked directly at it without protection Thousands of skygazers across the UK and the world have been treated to a breathtaking solar eclipse, with eye health specialists urging people to watch the spectacle through certified protective eyewear. The Moon passed directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out the Sun's face in a historic moment - the most significant eclipse since 1999. Experts have now issued stark warnings about the dangers facing those who stared directly at the eclipse without the right protection. Despite being a partial eclipse, specialists caution that there is a very real risk to eye health for anyone who attempted to view it with the naked eye. Nkosi Yearwood, optometrist and The College of Optometrists council member for Wales said: "People often forget that the sun gives out a lot more light than just visible light. There are also ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, and it's this whole spectrum that is harmful to our eyes." "Because the sun starts dimming in the eclipse, many people think that it's safe to look at, but actually even if it's a 90% coverage, you've still got 10% of the sun that you're staring at, and that's still a lot of energy." How can looking directly at the solar eclipse without certified filters impact your eyes? "If you look directly at it, it can cause damage to the back of the eye and can cause some retinopathy," Patrick Laidlaw, an optometrist based at Optegra Eye Clinic Sheffield said. "If you look at it for too long you could even develop a central bit of field loss." This is because looking directly at a solar eclipse can affect the macula. "There's a point at the back of the eye called the macula, which is where you get your central vision from, and it's highly populated with photoreceptors. Intense light can cause toxicity and can essentially burn the back of the eye," explains Laidlaw. Yearwood points out that historical evidence suggests this damage can occur even after only a brief glance. "In the days following the last eclipse in the Nineties, around 70 people across the UK presented to eye departments with some level of solar retinopathy, and about 40% of these people looked at it for less than a minute." What red flag eye symptoms should we look out for? Symptoms typically tend to be delayed. "It can take a few hours or even couple of days before you start feeling the symptoms," says Yearwood. He said that many people fail to notice anything immediately, as there is generally no pain associated with the condition. "The retina doesn't have any pain receptors, so you can do this damage and not know about it," says Yearwood. Nevertheless, there are other warning signs to be aware of, ranging from mild to severe. "The main things to look out for is any blurring in vision, distortion, a dark spot or a change in your colour vision," says Yearwood. "If you experience any of these symptoms or just feel like things aren't quite right, seek advice from an optometrist at your local opticians straight away." Laidlaw adds: "I would also look out for any severe light sensitivity or any reduction in vision." What do optometrists look for? "We look for any changes to the macular region, because that's the part of your eye which focuses on the very fine detail. Whenever you're looking at something, your macula is focused on it, and we tend to see changes to the retinal cells," says Yearwood. "It generally shows up as a yellowish spot." Can this damage be treated or reversed? There is no treatment for it, but it can heal itself. "Similar to sunburn, it does in most cases does heal itself," says Yearwood. "The length of time to heal and how high the chance of healing depends on how long you look at the eclipse for. "So, if you did end up staring at it for too long, you do risk permanent vision damage. If you are worried, go to your local opticians and let them assess you."