How can an eclipse hurt your eyes?

21, the first time the spectacle was viewable from the continental U.S. since 1979. While it may be tempting to brush off warnings about looking up at this eclipse bare-eyed, don't: The light of an eclipse really can damage your eyes — though warnings of total blindness may be overstated. read more

According to experts, viewing the sun with your naked eye during the eclipse can burn your retina, damaging the images your brain can view. This phenomenon, known as “eclipse blindness,” can cause temporary or permanent vision impairment, and in worst-case scenarios can lead to legal blindness, which entails significant loss of vision. read more

Even pets are vulnerable to eye damage from looking at an eclipse, though they don't tend to look directly at the sun. Even so, if they're with you during your eclipse outing, your furry friends should wear protective glasses as well. read more

Let's get this out of the way: You cannot safely watch the solar eclipse without wearing protective glasses.. If you aren't wearing protective glasses, ultraviolet light from the sun can penetrate and be absorbed into your retina, causing a condition that eye doctors call solar retinopathy. read more