Solar radiation can cause an irreversible burn to the retina when it reaches the macula, the area responsible for central vision. Although this damage can occur whenever you look directly at the Sun without proper protection, solar eclipses increase the risk. Dr. Anna Sala, retina specialist at Visiõnclinic, explains what solar retinopathy is, how it occurs, and the precautions you should take to protect your eyesight.
What is solar retinopathy?
Solar retinopathy is an injury caused by solar radiation to the retina, particularly to the macula, the area responsible for detailed vision, reading, and facial recognition.
Anna Sala
"During a solar eclipse, many people believe the Sun is no longer dangerous. However, solar radiation continues to reach the retina and can cause permanent damage"
Why can a solar eclipse damage the retina?
Our eye acts like a natural lens. The crystalline lens focuses sunlight onto the retina in much the same way that a magnifying glass concentrates the Sun’s rays onto a piece of paper.
“All that energy is focused on the macula, the most sensitive part of the retina, and it can cause an actual burn”,
explains Dr. Anna Sala. The injury is painless, which is why many people are unaware that damage has occurred until hours or even days later.
Just a few seconds can be enough
You do not need to look at the Sun for long. Just a few seconds or a minute of direct, unprotected exposure can be enough to cause retinal damage.
Symptoms may include blurred vision, a fixed dark spot in the centre of the visual field, difficulty reading, altered colour perception, or reduced contrast sensitivity. “When the macula is damaged, it’s not only visual acuity that decreases. The quality of colour perception and contrast also changes,” says our specialist.
Is there a treatment for solar retinopathy?
At present, there is no treatment capable of reversing the retinal damage caused by solar radiation. When the macula suffers a burn, some of its cells may be permanently damaged and, unlike many other tissues in the body, the retina has a very limited capacity to regenerate.
Even when using certified solar viewing filters, it is advisable to observe the eclipse only for short intervals and to rest your eyes between observations.
Anna Sala
“Once the injury occurs, our goal is to assess its extent and monitor its progression. In some patients, vision improves over time, but if the cells of the macula have been damaged, that tissue cannot recover.”
Solar retinopathy shares with diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) the characteristic of affecting the macula, the area responsible for central vision. However, its origin is completely different: while AMD is a degenerative disease related to aging, solar retinopathy is an acute injury caused by solar radiation.
Therefore, the best strategy remains prevention. Adequate protection during an eclipse can prevent an injury that, in some cases, will affect the patient for life.
How can you protect your eyes?
The only safe way to observe an eclipse is to use certified solar viewing glasses. Conventional sunglasses or any homemade method do not protect against solar radiation.
Even using certified filters, it is advisable to observe the eclipse in short intervals and rest your eyes between viewings.
Upcoming eclipses: an opportunity for prevention
After this year’s eclipse, two more highly anticipated events remain: August 2, 2027, and January 26, 2028.
Disfrutar de un eclipse es una experiencia única, pero nunca debe hacerse a costa de la salud visual. Porque una observación de apenas unos segundos puede dejar una lesión permanente en la retina.
