Why does looking directly at the sun damage your eyes?

Epicurus0319@sopuli.xyz to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 69 points –
31

You are viewing a single comment

On a related note, why is it that looking at the sky when there's a lot of light, if I use both eyes it hurts, but if I keep one closed I can see the sky just fine?

That's actually a bug; your brain averages light levels across both eyes when deciding how much to flinch.

Don't do it - you're basically exposing yourself to potentially damaging light levels in the eye you keep open.

One desensitized eye

I'm not sure, it doesn't matter which one I close

Pure conjecture, but maybe one overloaded eye is easier to handle than two?