If you didn't wear your eclipse glasses on to catch the action Monday afternoon, a local doctor says you may have been testing fate.
Dr. Neil Zusman of Zusman Eyecare in Port Charlotte said sneaking even a quick glance at the solar eclipse might land you in a chair at the doctor's office. He said just a few seconds of exposure to the solar eclipse could lead to solar retinopathy: the intense sunlight burns the retina in the back of your eye, causing blind spots. He said the damage could be permanent, and you might not notice any symptoms at first because you don't feel any pain.
"When you look at something, you can see a blind spot in the center of your vision. And if you looked at the sun long enough, that could be permanent," Dr. Zusman said. "Usually you'll know within a couple of days if you have a permanent blind spot."
He said he's seen this before, but not often, and said when he does, he sees an actual burn mark in the middle of the retina.
"I think the reason why people look at the solar eclipse longer is because it is a little more comfortable, because a lot of the sun is blocked. On a regular day, it is uncomfortable to look at the sun," Dr. Zusman said.
Four in Your Corner reached out to multiple doctor's offices and clinics around southwest Florida, but so far, no one has come in or called with eye issues or damage from the eclipse.
