CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — If you caught a glimpse of the annular solar eclipse on Saturday, you probably noticed how bright it was without any protective glasses.
That is why medical experts advised people wear special glasses to keep your eyes safe.
A healthcare expert at Surepoint ER said no one came in with eye injuries after yesterday's eclipse, but that could change after people notice eye problems.
"You're not going to see injuries right away," Surepoint ER Emergency Physician Dr. Kim Onufrak said. "Usually, it takes a few hours and even up to 12 hours."
Dr. Onufrak said eye damage from the eclipse might not be prevalent right now, but that could change. If you have symptoms but there is no pain, she said that could be because the retina is damaged.
"They might have some blurry vision; they might have some distortion of vision," Dr. Onufrak said. "So, something that should be straight might look a little wavy or curvy."
Dr. Onufrak said if there are symptoms without pain, people should go to an eye doctor so they can see the extent of the damage. Aside from blurry and distorted vision, color seeming off is another symptom to look out for. She said it does not take long to damage eyes from looking at the eclipse.
"Most people, it'll resolve within about three to six months," Dr. Onufrak said. "Other times, and it's really dependent on the person, the damage could be permanent."
If someone's eyes are in pain, Dr. Onufrak said they should go to the emergency room. There, doctors can make sure there is nothing else going on, like eye abrasions or scratches. She said wearing protective glasses would block dangerous UV radiation that could burn someone's retina. She noticed people had them on when she saw the eclipse on Saturday.
"We did go out and take advantage of the day yesterday. Everybody around us, we saw, was wearing their protective glasses and that was a good thing," Dr. Onufrak said.
Dr. Onufrak also mentioned that if you were at the beach, eye damage could occur from wind and sand. If you are unsure what is causing the pain, she said going to the ER can help.
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