People won’t stop Googling “my eyes hurt” after the solar eclipse

what you need to know

  • The total solar eclipse of April 8 has passed, and people have captured the scene with their eyes and cameras.
  • However, it wasn’t all plain sailing – Google searches for “my eyes hurt” and similar topics spiked after the eclipse.
  • Google Trends data records these spikes in a similar pattern to the last solar eclipse.

The last total solar eclipse that covered the continental United States occurred and ended earlier today (April 8), resulting in numerous reports of sore eyes. We all know it’s not a good idea to look directly at the sun, but the rules change a little during a solar eclipse. With the right eye protection (special eclipse glasses) and a little caution, you should be able to view a total solar eclipse safely. However, as Google Trends data shows, that’s not the case for everyone.

Starting at 1 p.m. ET, there was a huge increase in searches for “my eyes hurt” on Google. Search volume peaked around 3:20 p.m. ET, easily four times last year’s average. These times coincide with the eclipse’s spread over the continental United States, starting in the far south of the country and continuing through Canada. Similar search topics including “Why does a solar eclipse hurt your eyes?” and “Why do my eyes keep watering?” also spiked after the solar eclipse.

Google Trends data after the solar eclipse.

(Image source: Future/Google Trends)

By state, Vermont, West Virginia, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana had the highest search volume. Of these states, only one (West Virginia) is not at least partially within the path of totality. However, keep in mind that the top states are constantly changing as Google Trends data evolves.



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