It is quite difficult to be outside in bright sunlight, especially at noon. We are all aware that looking at the sun is dangerous for the eyes, but what about peripheral vision? Do we notice this light and does it harm us?
When looking at the sun for an extended period, a significant amount of ultraviolet light reaches the retina, which can lead to solar retinopathy. In extreme cases, this can cause blindness (which happens very rarely), but looking directly at the sun is very painful, usually resulting in spots in front of the eyes, blurred vision, or a deterioration in color perception.
However, it is worth considering that we can perceive bright sunlight through peripheral vision. What is the difference? To answer this question, it is necessary to understand the anatomy of the eye. At the front of the eye is the lens, which is responsible for focusing light on the macula (a pigmented area of the retina that is oval-shaped and located opposite the pupil, where vision is sharpest). The pupil is located in the center, so when you look directly at the sun, light hits the lens directly, focusing on the retina.
When you look at the sun not directly, but through peripheral vision, less light enters the pupil and lens, which cannot damage the retina. This can be easily understood by recalling the experiment with a magnifying glass and sunlight. The fact is that the surface of the magnifying glass is curved, so all rays, except those passing through the center, are refracted. Rays passing through the center may either not be refracted at all or slightly shift in space.
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