Sunglasses are not enough.  There is only one safe way to look directly at the sun, whether during an eclipse or not: through special-purpose solar filters. These solar filters are used in “eclipse glasses” or in hand-held solar viewers. They must meet a very specific worldwide standard known as ISO 12312-2. Watch out for fakes! Make sure they are not scratched or damaged. Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, or homemade filters are not safe for looking at the sun.

With a total eclipse there may be a very short period of 1 or 2 minutes when it is safe.  With a partial eclipse (such as 12 Aug 2026 in the UK) there is no safe time to look directly at the sun without protection.  

Never look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or other similar devices. This is important even if you are wearing eclipse glasses or holding a solar viewer at the same time. The intense solar rays coming through these devices will damage the protective filter in your solar glasses and put your eyes at risk.

If your eyes feel a little funny after an eclipse, it may not be a sign of solar retinopathy. Damage from the eclipse is unlikely to cause pain or discomfort in your eyes because the retina does not have any pain nerves. Instead, you would notice visual symptoms within four to six hours. But some may notice symptoms after 12 hours.

If you are concerned that you may have sustained damage, here are some symptoms to look out for:

Blurry vision

Headache

A blind spot in your central vision in one or both eyes

Increased sensitivity to light

Distorted vision, in which a straight line looks bent, or a door jamb looks curvy

Changes in the way you see color, known as "dyschromatopsia"