Solar retinopathy is an eye disorder that occurs when an individual stares at the sun, usually during an eclipse and gets his eyes impacted. In this blog, we will learn about the most common causes of solar retinopathy, how to prevent solar retinopathy, and how it can be treated.
Solar eclipse & Solar Retinopathy
A solar eclipse can be defined as a phase when the Moon passes between the earth and the sun, thereby covering the view of the sun from the world. Such events occur around every six months, but recently we have observed such eclipses occurring more frequently.
When discussing eye damage, let me magnify the specificity of eye problems that can occur during a solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, looking at the sun can be costly as it could impact your vision significantly. Therefore, wearing protective eye gear and avoiding direct gazing at the sun through the naked eye is always advisable. This may damage the retina, which is responsible for your vision.
The most common problem is retinal burns during a solar eclipse, which occurs as the concentrated sun’s light falls on a small area of the eye lens, leading to a condition called eclipse blindness.
The intensity of the sun rays that can cause damage to the eyes is not known, and hence, any dosage of solar ultraviolet rays or infrared radiation can cause. Retinal damage doesn’t heal like a sunburn on the skin. The retina is a nerve tissue, so it might not regenerate quickly and can lead to permanent eye damage. In many instances, when the sun’s rays hit the retina centre, it can permanently damage central vision.
Solar Retinopathy Symptoms:
Solar Retinopathy symptoms can be enlisted as
Mild symptoms
- Watery eyes
- Photosensitive
- Swelling in eyes
Severe Symptoms
- Hazy vision
- Vision loss in the centre of the eye
- Eye pain
In such cases, the problem that needs to be resolved should be a one-line treatment for people suffering with solar retinopathy. You should immediately get an appointment with a doctor and check your eyes. Depending upon the intensity of the damage caused to your eyes, the patient may heal within a week or months; others do not entirely recover their vision following solar retinopathy.
How to Check & Prevent Solar Retinopathy?
The first and the foremost thing that needs to be examined in case of a solar retinopathy patient is the retinal surface of the eyes. The method of examination may include usage of optical coherence tomography method.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a technical test carried out to view the cross-sectional images of the retina at a microscopic level.
A slit lamp examination may be needed to examine a patient’s retina. The retinal photographs are taken to monitor changes.
Fluorescein dye tests for monitoring blood vessels. The foveal cones have the potential to be durable and able to withstand solar damage and photochemical damage. This is why patients’ symptoms may improve over time.
After a week, the initial deep yellow fluid leaks out of blood vessels and may be encircled by a red halo followed by retinal pigment epithelium hypopigmentation with enveloping pigment stomping at 6 weeks.
The best way to protect yourself from solar retinopathy is to avoid looking at the sun directly or using laser pointers or bright lights unless you are using proper eye safety glasses.
Medically approved :The sun can be viewed safely if authorised solar filters are utilised. Proper eye safety is also required when viewing a solar eclipse. For more information read below
How can I safely watch a solar eclipse?
There are various methods to keep yourself safe while viewing a solar eclipse:
(1) By using the pinhole method
(2)Using specially designed solar eclipse glasses or filters
The Pinhole Method
The pinhole projector can be made very easily. You can make your own simple pinhole projector with two sheets of paper and a pin. With the help of a small pin, you can make a small hole in the centre of the sheets of paper. Next you need to take the sheet of paper with the hole and hold it above a second sheet of paper without a hole in it. Now, you can look at the bottom piece of paper, which does not have a hole in it, to view the sun’s image.
ISO 12312-2 approved Solar eclipse glasses
The only way you can look directly into an eclipse is by using a solar filter that meets the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. Make sure the solar eclipse glasses or filter you use meets this safety standard so you can protect your eyes from injury. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, keep them on while using these filters.
Solar eclipse glasses are specially made glasses to be worn on top of the normal glasses or contact lenses that you are wearing. If not, then you can hold the filter over your eyes BEFORE looking at the sun.
Solar Retinopathy Treatment
There is no specific solar retinopathy treatment. The best way to improve eye vision in the event of solar retinopathy is to improve on their own over a period of 3-6 months, and that too without any treatment. Suffering from solar retinopathy can lead to permanent damage, and patients may encounter low vision; prevention may be the best approach.
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