I still suffer from brain melt caused by the Trump era. Even against the uncontrolled spigot that caused my brain melt, one particularly dumb moment stands out. Former President Donald Trump’s glance at a solar eclipse. As I wrote then, it was an incident that was very Trumpian and, true to his character, defied science.
[[{“value”:”I continue to experience brain melt from the Trump era. One particularly stupid moment, however, stands out from the unchecked spigot of stupidity that caused my baffling, is previous US president Donald Trump’s observation of a thermal eclipse.
As I wrote at the time, it was a seriously Trumpian incident that, true to character, defied both science and common sense from the precise highest perch of government, the White House. But returning to this moment seven years later, a strange tingling connection emerges—and I ca n’t help but relate. Something about his foolish curiosity, which he temporarily ignored, is natural. The thrill! ( I speak from experience, however, when I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art while attending school. )
In the event that my own mischief results in a completely different kind of melt, I spoke to Dr. Viola Kanevsky, a famous New York optometrist, to make sure I had the facts right on what the eyes can take.
Here’s what she had to tell me about the ability for eye damage—and Trump’s infamous 2017 turn toward the sun.
What one safety precaution would you like to see for the thermal eclipse on Monday?
Hopefully, you have a pair of solar eclipse glasses. You could even learn how to use a pinhole camera website to directly observe the eclipse. However, you definitely need a pair of glasses to directly observe the eclipse.
The primary piece of advice I have is for people not to look at it instantly, specifically: vulnerable people, like young children, people who have lighter eyes, or people who have had cataract surgery recently. Generally, if you look at the sun, you would both sneeze or close your eyes. When there is an eclipse, especially before it’s half obstructed, it’s not bright enough to force you to close your eyes. However, it continues to be powerful enough to harm the retina permanently.
Take me through an eclipse-related phenomenon that is believed to exist in science. Does the eye actually sag? And if so, what does that feel like?
However, retina damage feels like nothing. If you pinch your skin, you have receptors that cause pain, and you feel pain. But if you burn or tear the retina, you might see flashing lights, but it’s a painful event.
The damage does n’t start to show up until days, if not hours. Free radicals are released that continue to harm the retina as time passes, causing swelling in the ocular layers and causing the macular pigment epithelium to become damaged by light. So it goes on for more damage after the exposure period. The result of that is reduced acuity, distortion of the vision, a blind spot. You can get any of those symptoms. Any of these should prompt you to call your optometry doctor straight ahead and have it checked out.
But to be clear. How quickly do these symptoms start to appear after exposure?
When the signs start to appear, it can take anywhere from an hour to a week.
Are we talking about continuous damage?
Usually it is lasting damage. If it’s really simple and very gentle exposure, most cases will resolve within about six weeks, meaning you’ll get back your vision. However, the metamorphosis that comes with it frequently leads to a temporary, oftentimes fatal, distortion of the vision.
I have patients who have had thermal burns or thermal holes that have 20/40, 20/80, or maybe even worse vision—and forever. A central vision blind spot, which means they are really missing an image right in the middle of their vision, is even worse.
Exist any methods to repair that damage?
However no. We’ve tried things like stimulant treatments, but the best treatment is prevention.
But in talking about all this, Donald Trump’s peak at the sun comes to mind. What did you think when you saw the US president disregarding the warning to avoid looking?
It was shocking. Of course, I do n’t know his ocular history. But it sets a poor example, especially for people who do n’t know and do n’t have the information, like young children, who might then want to do the same. They were made resilient.
Trump observed the eclipse in 2017. It’s then seven years after. His vision appears unbroken, despite some possible faults in him.
Also, how would I know? I have n’t checked his eyes. Without knowing that someone simply has 20/40 vision or a blind spot in one eye, it is impossible to look at them. And, at his age, you should be wearing reading glasses all the time rather of squinting. He’s not doing that sometimes.
What guidance does he have regarding this impending eclipse?
I do n’t typically offer vision advice to people. However, I would advise anyone of any age to ensure that their eyes are good by having yearly eye exams. Truly, as people get older, to make sure that their eyes are good to rule out signs of conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts—things that are preventable and treatable.
Ok, wonderful. Anything more we ought to be aware of?
The only additional book recommendation I can make for children is Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. There’s an eclipse in it, and knowing the date of the eclipse manages to save someone’s life. It’s a fun story.”}]] I continue to experience brain melt from the Trump era. One particularly stupid moment, however, stands out from the unchecked spigot of stupidity that caused my baffling, is previous US president Donald Trump’s observation of a thermal eclipse. As I wrote at the time, it was a greatly Trumpian incident that, true to character, defied both science and
I still suffer from brain melt caused by the Trump era. Even against the uncontrolled spigot that caused my brain melt, one particularly dumb moment stands out. Former President Donald Trump’s glance at a solar eclipse. As I wrote then, it was an incident that was very Trumpian and, true to his character, defied science.
“I will continue to fight for what I believe in, no matter what challenges may come my way.”
