NEW YORK, NY – Following yesterday’s solar eclipse, which cast shadows across 13 states with its totality and was partially visible throughout the U.S., New Yorkers were among the top searchers for eye discomfort. Despite repeated warnings from the National Solar Observatory about the dangers of directly observing the sun outside of totality, when the moon fully obscures the sun, New York ranked fourth nationwide in searches related to eclipse-induced eye pain.
Payless Power analysis, utilizing Google Trends, reveals a nationwide spike in concerns over eye health post-eclipse. Searches for “My eyes hurt” increased by 502%, while those specific to discomfort after viewing the eclipse surged by 5,740% in the last 24 hours. This data suggests a widespread dismissal of expert advice to wear protective eyewear during the eclipse.
In New York, searches for “my eyes hurt” after the eclipse saw a significant rise of 2,606%, placing New Yorkers high on the list of those potentially impacted by not heeding safety warnings. This increase is part of a broader trend across 25 states, with New Yorkers’ heightened interest in eye health issues post-eclipse reflecting a broader disregard for eclipse-viewing precautions nationwide.