People fear they will go blind after watching a total solar eclipse without eye protection

It hasn't been long since the day some lucky Earthlings witnessed this year's total solar eclipse, but doctors, in areas that fell in the path of totality, have reported an increase in cases of eye-related injuries.

The number of people suffering from eye-related injuries has jumped, while a New York City doctor says she has treated a number of patients with eye pain. New York Post mentioned.

“I've had many patients who panic and say, 'I don't want to go blind,'” says Dr. Janet Neshewat, a dual-board-certified physician based in New York City. Fox News Digital. “I couldn't believe it. People were already looking at the eclipse without protection.”

Doctors and eye specialists were constantly advising people not to look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse without protective equipment such as solar eclipse glasses because this could cause severe damage to vision.

But some did not heed the warning.

According to the new york post,Google searches for “hurt eyes” and “why do my eyes hurt after an eclipse” spiked after the moon and sun aligned on Monday.

Sunlight can burn the retina and damage the macula, the part of the retina located at the back of the eye that is responsible for central vision, Nesheiwat says.

According to a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Center for Health Statistics does not have any data on eye damage after an eclipse.

But Neshewat says she has treated as many as eight patients in midtown Manhattan, with one patient looking at the sun either directly or through his phone for about 10 minutes.

“The damage can be irreversible if the retina is severely damaged by looking directly into the eye without proper eye protection. Some people may experience mild symptoms if exposure to sunlight is short.”

Although the vast majority of people took safety precautions when viewing the eclipse, it is possible that some people used solar eclipse glasses that were recalled because they were fake.