Looking at the solar eclipse without glasses can cause long-lasting or even permanent damage to a vital part of your macula or fovea – the center of your eye’s retina where 99% of vision occurs. The amount of solar radiation that comes off during an eclipse can actually burn the inside of the eyeball, which can affect the neuro-tissue in the back of the eye that is brain tissue. This damage may heal over time but could be permanent, and there is little that can be medically done to repair this damage. The proper term for “eclipse blindness” is solar retinopathy, and it can potentially weaken your eyesight. Symptoms people can experience after viewing a solar eclipse without proper protection include loss of central vision, altered color vision, and distorted vision. If you do look at the eclipse without the proper eyewear, there could be irreversible consequences, and looking into the sun for even just a few seconds can cause damage to the retina. Therefore, it is crucial to wear certified solar eclipse glasses to view an eclipse, which cost about $1 and are typically made of paper and have a dark film covering the eyes.