Depending on the distance or angle from intensive sunlight reflection, the effect of UV radiation can actually burn the retinas of the eyes leading to discoloration for a period of time. This could occur if your eyes are exposed to direct sunlight for just few minutes.

Other Causes:

Bright light blindness can be cause by visiting your ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) or an osteopathic doctor (OD) who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to perform eye exams, diagnose and treat disease, prescribe medications and perform eye surgery. They also write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses. 

In this situation, the doctor performs series of tests with bright lights to determine any abnormal conditions with your Iris, Retina, Cornea or Sclera. Base on the results, the Ophthalmologist prescribes glasses to aid with your vision. At the end, the doctor will finally administer eye drops to relax the eye nerves and ask that you wait in the clinic for 30 minutes to an hour before driving home.

During this period, you are giving a disposable sunshade glasses to protect your eyes from direct sunlight.

How Not to Watch Solar Eclipses

According to NASA, the following materials should never be used to view a solar eclipse:

• sunglasses of any kind
• color film
• medical X-ray film
• smoked glass
• floppy disks

How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse

The only way to safely view the Sun – eclipsed or not – is to either project or filter the Sun’s rays.

Eclipse Glasses

There are many places you could find proper glasses to view eclipse, check online or with your local natural history museum, space museum, or astronomy club for where to get proper eclipse glasses.

NASA recommends welder’s glasses rated 14 or higher. These can be found at your local welding supply store. Keep in mind that welder glass grading may be different in different countries.

Solar Filters

You can use special solar filters to watch the Sun during a solar eclipse, but use the proper type of solar filter that is designed for eclipses. Check that filters do not crack under the Sun’s magnified and focused intensity. Solar filters must be treated with care, or they can quickly become damaged and unsafe to use.