Solar Retinopathy Is Why You Shouldn’t Look Directly at the Sun

Somewhere along the line you probably heard “don’t crack your knuckles, you’ll get arthritis” and “don’t go out in the cold or you’ll get sick.” Many common health sayings have been debunked over time. But here is one that’s definitely true: “Don’t look directly at the sun or you’ll hurt your eyes.”

Solar retinopathy is the medical term for eye damage caused by looking at the sun. Solar retinopathy gets a lot of attention anytime there’s a solar eclipse. That’s because people end up looking at the sun for too long while awaiting the big event. But as sun gazing increases in popularity, there’s been a spike in interest in solar retinopathy. 

Here’s what you should know about solar retinopathy and how to keep your eyes safe and healthy.

What is solar retinopathy?

Solar retinopathy is an eye condition that can develop when the retina gets damaged by the sun’s rays. The retina is the part of the eye that sends light signals to the brain so you can see. Without a healthy retina, you can’t see clearly. 

Here are some other terms for solar retinopathy:

• Photic maculopathy

• Foveomacular retinitis

• Eclipse retinopathy

You can develop solar retinopathy by looking directly at the sun for too long without protective eyewear. You can also develop solar retinopathy if you’re looking at the sun indirectly on a reflective surface. 

People who sun gaze for health and meditative benefits are most likely to develop solar retinopathy. 

Solar retinopathy cases also tend to go up whenever there’s a solar eclipse. But it’s a myth that the sun emits more dangerous rays during an eclipse. The reason for the spike is that people end up looking up at the sun too long without eye protection while waiting for or watching the eclipse. 

Artificial light sources can also cause solar retinopathy. These sources include:

• Sparks from arc welding equipment

• Laser pointers

• Microscopes

• Sparks from electrical short circuits

• Lights from tanning beds

What causes solar retinopathy?

Sunlight is made up of high-energy wavelengths. When the cells in the retina get hit with too much of this energy, they get damaged and stop working. The more of this energy hits the retina, the worse the damage. 

So looking at the sun for longer periods of time increases the risk of developing solar retinopathy. 

Solar retinopathy isn’t the only type of eye damage you can get from sun exposure. Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun can also lead to:

• Photokeratitis (a type of painful cornea injury)

• Cataracts

• Ocular melanoma

So there are many good reasons to wear eye protection whenever you’re exposed to sunlight.

What are the symptoms of solar retinopathy?

Symptoms of solar retinopathy can develop within just a few hours of sun exposure. Common symptoms include:

• Blurry vision

• Watery eyes

• A large blind spot in your vision

• Sensitivity to light

• Headache

• Change in color perception (colors look washed out)

• Vision distortion (straight lines look wavy and things look smaller than they are)

How do you treat solar retinopathy?

Solar retinopathy usually gets better on its own over several weeks to months. And that’s good news because there’s no treatment for solar retinopathy. 

If you develop symptoms after being exposed to the sun, you should see an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist can monitor your retinas to make sure they’re healing correctly over time. 

Most people completely regain their vision as solar retinopathy heals. But there’s a chance you can develop permanent vision changes if your retinas don’t fully recover. 

How can you safely sun gaze or view an eclipse?

Don’t use regular sunglasses if you’re going to gaze at the sun or view an eclipse. They don’t provide enough protection, even if they have UVA and UVB protection.

Instead, invest in a pair of glasses that filters and absorbs sunlight. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), recommends welder’s glass eyewear with a “Shade 12” or higher. You can find legitimate sellers on the American Astronomical Society website.

The bottom line 

Solar retinopathy is an eye condition that leads to vision changes. It happens when the sun’s rays damage the retina in the back of the eye. The most common causes of solar retinopathy are sun gazing and eclipse viewing. But you can also develop it from exposure to arc welding and laser pointers. To keep your eyes safe, always use eyewear that absorbs and filters sunlight (not sunglasses) whenever sun gazing. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Jennifer Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC

Jennifer Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC, is a board-certified physician and health coach who believes in achieving optimal health through healthy lifestyles. She’s a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Nishika Reddy, MD

Nishika Reddy, MD, is an attending physician at the University of Utah. She provides comprehensive and cornea medical care at the Moran Eye Center and serves as clinical assistant professor.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts