ARI CONNERTY-SINGER – News Editor
aic5296@psu.edu
Clinicians at Erie Retina Research offered walk-in vision check-ups free of charge on Tuesday, examining dozens of patients who experienced naked-eye exposure to the sun while observing Monday’s total solar eclipse.
Even in the presence of persistent warnings in eclipse-related media against looking directly at the sun without an adequate safety filter, numerous accidental exposures were suffered by onlookers throughout the Erie area. An unprotected glance at the sun has the potential to cause physical damage to the retina, even when it is only momentary; alert eclipse watchers who glimpsed the full intensity of sunlight often rightly suffered concern and anxiety over their long-term vision health even when no direct pain or vision loss was detected. A vision check-up at the clinic was the key to alleviating their fears, said Dr. David Almeida, the leading ophthalmologist at Erie Retina Research.
With brief, mild exposure, according to Dr. Almeida, there is potential for temporary loss of vision or clarity for a span of one to two days. Stronger exposure on the order of several seconds can lead to permanent impact on a patient’s vision, including loss of visual acuity, and sufficiently lengthy exposure causes irreversible burns on the retina, potentially leading to full or partial blindness. Fortunately, he says, the latter scenario has not yet been encountered by physicians at the clinic.
A number of patients underwent accidental exposure when they were forced to rush outside or remove their eclipse glasses to see what was around them, or erroneously believed a cloud would protect their eyes. Improperly protected optics (such as telescopes) catching fire due to intense thermal exposure were among the secondary dangers also encountered by eclipse viewers.
Dr. Almeida strongly recommends a vision check-up for anyone who fears their eyes have been exposed to harmful rays from the sun. In the best case, a simple non-invasive eye exam will alleviate a patient’s fears and confirm that their vision is intact; while in the worst case, any injuries or defects can be detected early on, potentially halting irreversible long-term damage or deterioration.
Erie Retina Research is also collecting eclipse glasses for redistribution and reuse across the globe during forthcoming solar eclipses, and checking individual pairs of glasses to ensure they are not among those that have been recently recalled by manufacturers. Donors can drop off their eclipse glasses at the Erie Retina Research office at 300 State St. Suite 302.
