The fascinating display of the natural phenomenon was spectacular and entertaining for many, but, in the following hours, searches for the phrase “my eyes hurt” on Google search quickly increased.
Millions of people across North America watched the total solar eclipse cross the continent on Tuesday. The exciting display of the natural phenomenon was spectacular and entertaining for many, but, in the following hours, the searches for the phrase “my eyes hurt” in Google search skyrocketed.
Thanks to Google Trends, it’s very easy to see what people are searching for online. And, as expected, most of the topics today were about the eclipse. “Can you take a photo of the eclipse” was a top topic for the day, but another search also rose in popularity. “My eyes hurt” was boosted in Google search around 2:30-3pm. ET in the United States, just as the solar eclipse was visible across large parts of the US.
By 4 p.m., when the eclipse had passed over most of the U.S., searches for the topic dropped off quickly, but were still higher than at any time recently. Similarly, there was another big spike in people dealing with eye pain in August 2017, when a total solar eclipse last passed over the US.
Also of note for today, searches for “my eyes hurt” spiked especially in the US along the path of the eclipse, with the top five states in search to be New Hampshire, West Virginia (partial eclipse visible), Arkansas, Indiana, and Rhode Island (also partially eclipse visible).
The reason for this rise in searches is pretty obvious. Even if the sun is 95% covered by the moon, looking at it without protective glasses can cause serious damage to your eyes. In fact, fake sunglasses sold “like hot cakes” offering non-existent protection. If you looked at the eclipse unprotected and feel pain, you should seek medical help.
Did you see today’s #GoogleDoodle? Don’t be like the E and sleep on this rare celestial event. It’s the last total solar #eclipse to cross North America until 2045!
Join our livestream starting at 1pm ET (1700 UTC) for views from Mexico to Maine: https://t.co/h6AgaQVgmc pic.twitter.com/zXYFQQlONL
— NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2024
Source :Skai
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