Looking at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can cause permanent eye damage or even blindness. The intense light from the sun can cause retinal burns or solar retinopathy, which can damage or destroy cells in the retina that transmit what you see to the brain. This damage can be temporary or permanent and occurs with no pain. It can take a few hours to a few days after viewing the solar eclipse to realize the damage that has occurred. Children and young adults are at higher risk of sustaining eclipse-related eye injuries.

To prevent eye damage, it is important to use proper eye protection when viewing a solar eclipse. Never look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse, except during the very brief time the sun is in total eclipse, and even then, with caution. Proper eye protection includes eclipse glasses that meet the safety requirements of ISO 12312-2 filters for direct observation of the sun. It is important to follow NASAs instructions in using these glasses. Other ways to safely watch a solar eclipse include on television or at the planetarium.

It is also important to note that unless specifically designed for viewing a solar eclipse, no filter is safe to use with any optical device (telescopes, binoculars, etc). All color film, black-and-white film that contains no... . Never look at the sun directly using optical aids such as telescopes, binoculars, or cameras, even if you are wearing eclipse glasses. Without properly installed specialist solar filters, viewing the sun through such optical devices will result in immediate and severe eye damage.

In summary, looking at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can cause permanent eye damage or even blindness. It is important to use proper eye protection when viewing a solar eclipse and to follow the instructions for use.