Staring at the sun (during the eclipse or any other time), without proper eye protection, can cause “solar retinopathy” or retinal burns of your eyes. These injuries are painless and can take hours to days to realize the damage has occurred. Solar retinopathy can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from headaches and light sensitivity to permanent blind spots in your vision or complete blindness in the eye.
Please do not look at the sun without special-purpose solar filters/glasses. For tips on how to view the eclipse safely, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/doc/how-to-safely-view-the-april-8-2024-total-solar-eclipse/download