Solar Retinopathy

The eyes are one of the most important sense organs that any organism has. It allows people to be visually aware of our surroundings.

Eyes are the parts of our body that perceive light. They allow us to see the world and to understand how objects relate to each other and help us co-ordinate with the rest of the world perfectly. They are also very important in co-ordination of our movement.

The retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina. This image stimulates the retina which sends impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. There is a small area, called the macula, in the retina that contains special light-sensitive cells. The macula allows us to see fine details clearly.

Retinopathy is damage to the retina due to a number of causes that range from Diabetes , Hypertension, trauma or even sun gazing. For this hub I will focus on damage by light (Solar).

The main causes of Solar Retinopathy include

1. Sun gazing
2. Snow reflection
3. Staring at Solar eclipses
4. Prolonged darkness then sudden normal light
   

The damage is usually thought to be "burning" of the retina but it is actually due to photochemical injury rather than thermal injury. Usually there are natural reflexes that cause the eyes to blink, but this can be diminished, during sun gazing, because of religious activities or when under the influence of mind altering drugs. There are a number of sun gazing rituals that are practiced, but none of them are advised or advocated to due their detrimental outcomes, which includes blindness.

During a solar eclipse, even though most of the sun is blocked out there are still some dangerous UV rays that get through. There are special ways to view eclipses, through pinhole boxes and other methods.

The final cause was suggested in a current situation, when miners from Chile where trapped in a mine for 69 days. When they where rescued the miners came out with dark sunglasses in order to protect them from this type of retinopathy.

Also being in a environment that can reflect the suns rays can be dangerous without the proper protection. This is obvious when you go skiing, or go to beautiful white sand beaches. You automatically find yourself squinting, due to the reflection.

Thats why you find skiers and beach goers wearing spiffy sunglasses