🌞 The Gist: The recent solar eclipse sparked a nationwide surge in eye health concerns, particularly in Georgia, where Google searches related to eye pain after the eclipse topped the charts.
🔍 The Details: Despite widespread cautions from experts about the dangers of looking directly at the sun during the eclipse, it would appear a substantial number of Americans seem to have disregarded this advice.
Following the event, there’s been a dramatic increase in Google searches for symptoms of eye discomfort, signaling potential widespread disregard for safety advice.
📊 By The Numbers:
- Increase in searches for “My eyes hurt”: 502%
- Increase for “Eyes hurt after looking at eclipse”: 5,740%
- Georgia’s surge in searches: 4,006%
📈 Behind The Numbers: Some of you may be asking how these numbers can be over 100%. This isn’t a problem with the numbers, it just means you are bad at math. Percentages of increase over 100% mean something has more than doubled. For example, a 100% increase means something has doubled, a 200% increase means it’s three times bigger than it was at the start.
❓ Why It Matters: The spike in health concerns, especially in states like Georgia, may show the need for more effective communication and education around the safety measures necessary during solar eclipses, or it could mean that Georgians who have an aversion to listening to experts might want to re-think their stance.
🙋 What You Can Do: If you’re experiencing discomfort after viewing the eclipse, seek medical advice. Future eclipse viewers should prioritize protective measures, including the use of ISO-certified eclipse glasses.
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