Americans heard it for weeks leading up to Monday's solar eclipse: Don't look directly into the sun without special glasses. But it appears eye damage is a growing concern for Americans following the eclipse.

A look at the search trends on Google reveals that “hurt eyes” peaked in popularity before, during and after the rare celestial event.

What You Need To Know

  • "Hurt eyes" appeared as a popular Google search phrase before, during and after the solar eclipse Monday

  •  Doctors said eye discomfort is unlikely a sign of damage because there are no pain receptors in the retina

  • There will be more obvious symptoms of damage, including a blurred center of vision

“I can tell you if they’re saying their eyes hurt, that’s not the injury we’re worried about,” said SUNY Upstate Medical University Professor & Chair of Ophthalmology Dr. Robert Fechtner.

It may be a concern of many, but it’s unlikely related to the eclipse.

“A burn from an eclipse does not cause any discomfort,” Fechtner said. “There are no pain receptors in the retina.”

So, while New Yorkers seem to be focused on hurt eyes, there are other, more obvious indicators of damage.

“Your vision in the center of your eye isn’t going to look right,” Fechtner said. “You’re going to have a blurred, or punched out, spot.”

And if you are experiencing those symptoms, Fechtner encourages you to see a doctor, but said sun-related eye damage is fortunately uncommon.

“You could get the same injury any day of the week,” he said. “People don’t stare at the sun any day of the week.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James is encouraging New Yorkers to check their eclipse glasses for proper certification. There are, unfortunately, some bad actors who distributed fake glasses.

The American Astronomical Society can help with that, or you can read along the insides of the arms of your glasses. If you suspect you’ve got a fake pair, the AG’s office would like to hear from you.