How can looking at the sun blind you

For the first time, scientists are altering DNA in a living human, and with more research the study could lead to the development of procedures that…. Peripheral vision loss is also called tunnel vision, and can occur due to other health conditions, such as glaucoma, stroke, and diabetic retinopathy.

Learn all about the ocular debris known as drusen, how they affect your vision, their relation to vision loss, as well as what to do if you're…. Roth spots are signs of bleeding that might show up during an eye exam. See what they look like and learn what causes them. Learn about the procedure of scleral buckling and how long it takes to recover. The retina is a thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye on the inside.

It is located near the optic nerve. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, O. What happens to your eye? What happens when you stare at the sun for too long? What are the symptoms of eye damage from staring at the sun? When to see an eye doctor. Treating eye damage. Preventing damage to your eyes.

The bottom line. Read this next. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Technically, your corneas suffer sun damage through a condition called photokeratitis. Here are some other eye conditions that can result from ultraviolet UV exposure :. The sun's UV rays can damage your eyes even when the sky is overcast.

UVA: Lower-energy UVA rays, which are able to get past the cornea to the lens and retina, have been linked to the development of cataracts and macular degeneration. UVB: Any UVB rays that make it through the ozone layer are absorbed by the cornea, which can lead to photokeratitis, pingueculae and pterygia.

UVC: While these rays have the potential to be the most damaging, nearly all are blocked by the ozone layer. Wrap-around sunglasses, the preference of many athletes, help block that peripheral sunlight from entering your eyes. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is another way to protect your face and eyes from the sun's rays. The length of time it takes for the sun to damage your eyes depends on how long you are staring at the sun without protection.

Prolonged exposure to the sun can damage your eyes over time. It destroys the rods and cones of the retina and can create a small blind spot in the central vision, known as a scotoma. Most people who experience solar keratitis and solar retinopathy make a full recovery but, depending on the level of damage, this can take up to 12 months. Others never fully recover complete vision , and continue to experience vision problems such as blurriness or spots. They should be able to establish the degree of damage, if any, and advise you how to best manage your recovery.

If you really need to look at the sun, there are simple and safe ways to do so. One method is to fashion a simple pinhole camera. See other safe ways to view the sun or a solar eclipse.