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<\/p>\nHere are some warning signs to look out for.<\/p>\n
Camilla Foster, PA and Olivia Bridge Reporter in Live News Network<\/p>\n
20:42, 12 Aug 2026Updated 21:17, 12 Aug 2026<\/p>\n
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Special solar eclipse glasses are required(Image: CLEMENS BILAN\/EPA\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
The spectacular solar eclipse was witnessed by thousands of skygazers across Ireland today.<\/p>\n
The Moon passed directly between the Earth and the Sun earlier this evening, blocking the Sun’s face. Although we saw a partial solar eclipse, it was said to be the most significant one in decades with more than 90% of the Sun’s surface obscured.<\/p>\n
Now, however, eye health experts have revealed what to do if you directly looked at the sun without proper protection – and at what point you might need advice from an optician.<\/p>\n
Nkosi Yearwood, optometrist and The College of Optometrists council member for Wales said: \u201cPeople often forget that the sun gives out a lot more light than just visible light. There are also ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, and it\u2019s this whole spectrum that is harmful to our eyes.<\/p>\n
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The solar eclipse in the UK(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the sun starts dimming in the eclipse, many people think that it\u2019s safe to look at, but actually even if it\u2019s a 90% coverage, you\u2019ve still got 10% of the sun that you\u2019re staring at, and that\u2019s still a lot of energy.\u201d<\/p>\n
How can looking directly at the solar eclipse without certified filters impact your eyes?<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look directly at it, it can cause damage to the back of the eye and can cause some retinopathy,\u201d Patrick Laidlaw, an optometrist based at Optegra Eye Clinic Sheffield said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at it for too long you could even develop a central bit of field loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is because looking directly at a solar eclipse can affect the macula.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a point at the back of the eye called the macula, which is where you get your central vision from, and it\u2019s highly populated with photoreceptors. Intense light can cause toxicity and can essentially burn the back of the eye,\u201d explains Laidlaw.<\/p>\n
Yearwood notes that history suggests that this damage can occur even when you look at it for short period of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the days following the last eclipse in the Nineties, around 70 people across the UK presented to eye departments with some level of solar retinopathy, and about 40% of these people looked at it for less than a minute,\u201d says Yearwood.<\/p>\n
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What to do if you looked at the eclipse(Image: ANP\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
What red flag eye symptoms should we look out for?<\/p>\n
People tend to get delayed symptoms.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can take a few hours or even couple of days before you start feeling the symptoms,\u201d says Yearwood.<\/p>\n
He explains that many people don\u2019t notice it straight away because there usually isn\u2019t any pain associated with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe retina doesn\u2019t have any pain receptors, so you can do this damage and not know about it,\u201d says Yearwood.<\/p>\n
However, there are other signs to look out for that can range from mild to drastic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main things to look out for is any blurring in vision, distortion, a dark spot or a change in your colour vision,\u201d says Yearwood.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you experience any of these symptoms or just feel like things aren\u2019t quite right, seek advice from an optometrist at your local opticians straight away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laidlaw adds: \u201cI would also look out for any severe light sensitivity or any reduction in vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
What do optometrists look for?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look for any changes to the macular region, because that\u2019s the part of your eye which focuses on the very fine detail. Whenever you\u2019re looking at something, your macula is focused on it, and we tend to see changes to the retinal cells,\u201d says Yearwood. \u201cIt generally shows up as a yellowish spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Can this damage be treated or reversed?<\/p>\n
There is no treatment for it, but it can heal itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimilar to sunburn, it does in most cases does heal itself,\u201d says Yearwood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe length of time to heal and how high the chance of healing depends on how long you look at the eclipse for.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, if you did end up staring at it for too long, you do risk permanent vision damage. If you are worried, go to your local opticians and let them assess you.\u201d<\/p>\n