Although most of the people who observed the solar eclipse on Wednesday did so following the guidance and recommendations of the specialists in ocular health, there were those who did not and (probably) are at this moment sorry.
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13/08/2026
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Nit is not every day that we have the opportunity to see a total solar eclipse and, with the phenomenon being so rare, there were millions of people who gathered to attend this wednesday, the 12th.
Most people who decided to attend the eclipse seem to have obeyed the advice and warnings of health entities and ophthalmology specialists, using properly approved glasses to observe the phenomenon. However, it is enough to navigate a few minutes in the TikTok to realize that not all have followed these advice, complaining now of pain and burns in the eyes – also known as solar retinopathy.
How the French website counts Le Dauphiné Libéré, some users of TikTok even reported having gone to emergency services and hospitals after they had not felt improvement in symptoms.
In most cases, says Jordi Gascón of Bellvitge Hospital, the first symptoms after an unprotected observation of the eclipse are loss of vision “generalised or spot-shaped”, and “distortions in the lines of objects in the field of view itself”.
In some cases, these symptoms may not even appear immediately. “It is not expected to happen immediately, but it will appear in the coming days”, says Gascón in statements to Telecinco.
In case of our General Health Directorate, the importance of getting in touch with SNS24 is highlighted if you notice distorted or blurred vision, change in color perception, sudden decrease or loss of vision or intense eye pain.
Situation also occurred in the solar eclipse of 1999
It turns out that these situations are not exclusive to the eclipse of 2026 and apparently were also verified in the solar eclipse of 1999. This is evident through a study by Roger Dobson, where it is noted that several people went to hospitals in the United Kingdom one week after the eclipse of August 11, that year – which marked the end of the last millennium.
In this study, it is reported that on August 16, 1999 six cases were confirmed in the United Kingdom of people with solar retinopathy. “Most known cases have resulted from looking at the sun without protecting the eyes”, may read in this study. “ In one of the most serious cases, the patient will have looked at the sun for about 20 minutes without protection”.
Still, in 1999 the number of cases was considered significantly lower than expected.
“ We are very pleased that the number of people suffering from solar retinopathy is relatively low, which shows that the campaign and health education messages have worked and reached the vast majority of the population.”, said at the time the ophthalmologist surgeon of Moorfields Hospital.
Returning to 2026, by now it should be early to know how many people ended up with eye damage as a result of the solar eclipse and to observe it without proper protection. However, it is recommended that if you experience some of the symptoms described above you go to a health unit for a consultation.