Sungazing is the practice of intentionally looking directly at the sun, usually during sunrise or sunset. Proponents believe it can provide health benefits by connecting with the sun's energy, potentially leading to increased energy levels, improved mental clarity, and even spiritual awakening. However, medical professionals strongly advise against it due to the risk of severe eye damage.
The human eye is very sensitive, and exposure to direct
sunlight
Sunlight is the portion of the electromagnetic radiation which is emitted by the Sun (i.e. solar radiation) and received by the Earth, in particular the visible spectrum, visible light perceptible to the human eye as well as invisible infrare ...
can lead to
solar retinopathy,
pterygium,
cataract
A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens (anatomy), lens of the eye that leads to a visual impairment, decrease in vision of the eye. Cataracts often develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may include faded colours, blurry or ...
s,
and potentially blindness.
Studies have shown that even when viewing a
solar eclipse
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs approximately every six months, during the eclipse season i ...
the eye can still be exposed to harmful levels of
ultraviolet
Ultraviolet radiation, also known as simply UV, is electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths of 10–400 nanometers, shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is present in sunlight and constitutes about 10% of ...
radiation.
Damage
The damage to eyes from ultraviolet radiation can be serious and permanent due to damage to the
retina
The retina (; or retinas) is the innermost, photosensitivity, light-sensitive layer of tissue (biology), tissue of the eye of most vertebrates and some Mollusca, molluscs. The optics of the eye create a focus (optics), focused two-dimensional ...
. Wearing
sunglasses
Sunglasses or sun glasses (informally called shades or sunnies; more names Sunglasses#Other names, below) are a form of Eye protection, protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damagin ...
can prevent some harm, depending on the UV rating. People who have had
cataract surgery
Cataract surgery, also called lens replacement surgery, is the removal of the natural lens (anatomy), lens of the human eye, eye that has developed a cataract, an opaque or cloudy area. The eye's natural lens is usually replaced with an artific ...
, received
photodynamic therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a form of phototherapy involving light and a photosensitizing chemical substance used in conjunction with molecular oxygen to elicit cell death ( phototoxicity).
PDT is used in treating acne, wet age-related macula ...
, or are under the effects of
photosensitizing medications have an increased risk of eye damage due to sungazing. During a solar eclipse, the risk of damage is especially high. When looking at the eclipsed Sun directly, the eyes
dilate
Dilation (or dilatation) may refer to:
Physiology or medicine
* Cervical dilation, the widening of the cervix in childbirth, miscarriage etc.
* Coronary dilation, or coronary reflex
* Dilation and curettage, the opening of the cervix and surg ...
due to the reduced
visible light
Light, visible light, or visible radiation is electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light spans the visible spectrum and is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm ...
. Without proper protection, this leads to a larger area for the Sun's UV rays to penetrate and do damage. This can be hard to prevent as the retina has no pain receptors.
Movements
Referred to as ''sunning'' by
William Horatio Bates as one of a series of exercises included in his
Bates method
The Bates method is an ineffective and potentially dangerous alternative medicine, alternative therapy aimed at improving visual acuity, eyesight. Eye-care physician William Bates (physician), William Horatio Bates (1860–1931) held the err ...
, it became a popular form of
alternative therapy in the early 20th century.
His methods were widely debated at the time but ultimately discredited for lack of scientific rigor. The ''
British Medical Journal
''The BMJ'' is a fortnightly peer-reviewed medical journal, published by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, which in turn is wholly-owned by the British Medical Association (BMA). ''The BMJ'' has editorial freedom from the BMA. It is one of the world ...
'' reported in 1967 that "Bates (1920) advocated prolonged sun-gazing as the treatment of
myopia
Myopia, also known as near-sightedness and short-sightedness, is an eye condition where light from distant objects focuses in front of, instead of on, the retina. As a result, distant objects appear blurry, while close objects appear normal. ...
, with disastrous results".
See also
*
Joseph Plateau
Joseph Antoine Ferdinand Plateau (; 14 October 1801 – 15 September 1883) was a Belgian physicist and mathematician. He was one of the first people to demonstrate the illusion of a moving image. To do this, he used counterrotating disks with r ...
References
External links
San Diego State University Dept. of Astronomy information on solar observation safety
Natural environment based therapies
Alternative medicine
Sun
Eye injury
Eye diseases
Naturopathy
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