When you are waiting to watch the 2017 solar eclipse of the sun in August, you may not have considered the potential damage that you may cause to your eyes. As you stare direct into the sun, the bright light source is too strong for your eyes to cope. Your eyes may be damaged temporarily or in the worst cases, you could be blinded forever.
Do You Want to Suntan Your Eyes?
As soon as you stare into the sun, without using the correct grade of eclipse glasses which are designed to protect you, you will begin the process of sun burning your eyeballs. Ultraviolet is the most damaging of the three types of light produced by the sun. The UV light can be worse on your eyes as it is reflected across water, snow or sand. The other light sources are visible and infrared.
The outer layer of your eye is called the cornea. This will crack and blister when you allow too much UV light into your eyes. This is much the same as the way you sunburn your skin. It is not on purpose, but it will occur if you don’t protect yourself.
You may not notice any immediate damage to your eyes although you will have experienced what may be known as snow blindness, when you can’t see anything for a short while. Should you have damaged your eyes too much your eyes will feel like you are rubbing them with a fine sandpaper which is effectively the tissue becoming inflamed and tearing across your eyes. You can prevent this damage by wearing correctly formulated UV rated sunglasses, which are essential when you decide to watch the next 2017 solar eclipse. Is important to remember that you will be staring at the sun before and after the eclipse occurs.
Too Much Staring at The Sun Will Damage Your Retina
Should you persist at staring at the sun without using the correct eyewear, your retina may become damaged. This may not appear painful, but the damage may not be reversible.
Some damage to your retina can be healed over a course of 12 to 18 months, where you will have no access to the sun whatsoever. Should you persist in staring at the sun regularly, the UV light may damage the lens in your eyes causing cataracts and potential blindness.
For those who decide to look at the sun through a magnifying glass, you will vastly increase the amount of UV light that enters your eyes without suitable protection and you may never be able to watch the 2017 solar eclipse again in your life.
