TOLEDO, Ohio — The total solar eclipse Monday gave thousands a chance to see the beauty in a once-in-a-lifetime natural event.
While this phenomenon was generally safe to watch with the proper eyewear, there are still some who may have gotten injured because of it and may not even realize it.
Medical professionals are concerned people were more likely to exercise risky behavior while viewing this solar event.
At ProMedica Wildwood Medical Center, in Ophthalmology, Dr. Stanley Tao said many patients had been asking questions about eye safety before the solar event. He even found some people were given fake eclipse sunglasses without the correct safety lenses.
"We were expecting a flood of phone calls but we haven't had too many calls," Tao said. "But we expect that there will be calls because of the public interest prior."
Having worked in the field for more than 20 years, Tao said there will be damage, known as solar retinopathy, from looking at the recent solar eclipse without proper ISO lenses.
The damage can range from minor to severe depending on symptoms.
The most common seven are:
- blurry vision
- headaches
- light sensitivity
- line distortion
- central grey/dark spot
- objects seem small
- color vision distortion
Tao believes they will see some patients because of the eclipse because on eclipse day, he saw people in the crowd not wearing glasses, just staring at the sun.
He expects there is some actual damage but said some patients may not actually notice. So if your symptoms came after the eclipse and are now gone, you should be in the clear.
He said 90 percent of people who experienced any of the listed above symptoms have likely recovered by now. However, if things still seem off, a quick test is to close one eye and check to see if there are any vision issues.
Tao said any asymmetry in vision is a cause for concern.
Therefore, he said you can never be too careful. This caution should extend to children since adults can sometimes easily notice an issue, but children may not realize it.
"A change, we don't like change. Not being able to see what they used to be able to see: video games, television, iPad, or texting," Tao said "If they're struggling with that, that's a big change."
He said another big issue outside of the solar eclipse damage, causing solar retinopathy, is laser pointers. The doctor said he's seen a lot of children purchasing laser pointers and shining them into the eyes of others. Therefore, keep those out of children's hands.
If you've experienced any of the warning signs or are unsure, make an appointment with your eye doctor.