© THOMAS BENDER/HERALD-TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK
Syndication: Sarasota Herald-Tribune
(New York, NY) — Google searches for “why do my eyes hurt” or “eyes hurt” have spiked in the hours after Monday’s solar eclipse, suggesting many Americans stared into the sky without glasses on. The terms saw a jump in the number of searches around 2 p.m. Eastern, which is about the time the eclipse started to be seen in the U.S. Searches peaked at 3 p.m. Eastern. Other popular searches in the U.S. on Monday included “can I look at the sun” and “solar eclipse no glasses.” Ophthalmologists warned about staring at the eclipse without special eclipse glasses on. One doctor says the eye irritation being felt by many today should go away in 24 to 48 hours. If it doesn’t, they suggest making an appointment with your nearby ophthalmologist.
There wont be another eclipse in the contiguous 48 states until 2044. Millions traveled to the path of totality which spanned from Texas up through a dozen states before ending in Maine. Others just took a moment out of their day to witness the rare cosmic event of the moon temporarily blocking out the sun. Some animals also took notice, with many in zoos noticeably shrieking and squawking.
