Peripheral Vision / Sunlight Damage

[1977ub]

If I am walking on a sunny day, looking mostly straight ahead, and the Sun is close to straight ahead but elevated 30 to 45 degrees so I'm not looking directly at it, is there a risk of vision damage?

 

[.Scott]

If you allow your eyes to react to the glare in their normal way, no.
If you try to keep looking even though it is uncomfortable, they definitely yes.

I think the normal reaction is to tilt the head down so that the eyebrows are more effective.

 

[1977ub]

I often find myself in a similar situation when driving - the Sun is ahead and elevated 30-60 degrees. I have to look straight ahead.

 

[phinds]

I often find myself in a similar situation when driving - the Sun is ahead and elevated 30-60 degrees. I have to look straight ahead.

Which is why sunglasses were invented

 

[1977ub]

This is news to me. I thought they were basically for eye comfort - to reduce the impulse to squint.

I had no idea they were some sort of medical prevention for actual retinal damage.

Do you have any references?