Tomorrow (29 March), Audiences in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including 13 states in Northeast AmericaThere will be an opportunity to see a partial view Solar eclipse,
This phenomenon occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and partially blocks the Sun, which seems that a bite has been taken out of our nearest star.
But without staring at the sun straight Certified eclipse glasses There may be an eye condition known as solar retinopathy, causing permanent vision loss.
So what is solar retinopathy and how can you protect yourself against it?
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What is solar retinopathy?
Solar retinopathy occurs when acute light is damaged Light-sensitive tissue In the retina.
The retina detects light and converts it into signals that translates the brain In the images you seeDespite its name, solar retinopathy can be caused by any acute light source, including the sun, a laser pointer or bright light from a welding torch. Solar retinopathy may be Within seconds of exposure For intense light in One, or more often, both eyes,
Anyone who stars the sun, even on a regular day, can get solar retinopathy, Dr. Julie RousanthalA diagnostic assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual science at the University of Michigan told Live Science. However, the eclipse is a time when people who do not weld or use lasers can easily come in contact with such damage, he said.
People can be insecure during partial eclipse, especially for solar retinopathy because the dark conditions caused by the sun are partially covered, preventing protective reflexes in the eye from kicking properly, Live science was reported earlier,
When it is light out, for example, people break their eyes during their students – who control how much light the light enters – to protect the retina, tighten, Dr. Sandra MontezumaA professor of ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota told Live Science. However, when it is dark, the students are diluted, allowing more light to enter the eye and potentially damages the retina, he said.
Usually, people will not feel the damage caused because they stare at the sun because there are there No pain receptors In the retina.
What are the symptoms of solar retinopathy?
A General symptoms Solar retinopathy is blurred vision, often with a large blurred place in the middle of your area of vision. Patients may also have distorted vision, for example, as they are really as they are winding or looking at objects.
Other symptoms include headaches and color vision changes when color-utting cells are damaged. Solar retinopathy can also cause a blind space in the eyes of patients. People can also complain that their eyes feel water or sour.
The longer and more you see the sun, the more you do it more often, the greater the damage. Symptoms of solar retinopathy may take hours or days to emerge after injury.
An eye doctor can create a retina image to diagnose solar retinopathy, and to determine how much damage to your retina has caused.
Is solar retinopathy treatable?
there is No treatment For solar retinopathy, however, the situation will improve for many people during the situation First six months After the loss, Dr. Rosanthal said. Nevertheless, even though the symptoms and vision problems of a patient get better over time, many can still be. Is a permanent dark spot or see some wavy lines In his view, he said.
In some cases, the retina may be so severely damaged that it does not repair itself. It can leave patients with permanent vision loss.
How can you stop solar retinopathy?
Dr. Montezuma said that the best way to avoid solar retinopathy is not to see the Sun directly.
However, if people still want to see a partial solar eclipse on 29 March, they should make sure that they are either wearing solar eclipse glasses that comply ISO 12312-2 International StandardsOr using solar filters on the skywatching device, he said. Solar filters are special filters that are added to devices such as telescope, binoculars, or cameras that block sunlight.
If you do not have access to any of these things, then another safe option is just Watch partial eclipse onlineDr. Montezuma said.
“This is actually a great time to be a part of science and enjoy this cool event, but just make sure that you are safely,” Dr. Rosanthal said.
This article is only for informative purposes and does not mean to give medical advice.
