Dozens in hospital for eye pain after solar eclipse (cross-border guide)

Context

Dozens of people in Switzerland have been hospitalized due to eye pain after the solar eclipse on August 12. Affected people complained of headaches and dizziness. In all cases, the symptoms are expected to disappear without any consequences.

An estimated 200 people have been hospitalized across Switzerland, with a peak of 80 cases in a single day in Zurich. 📊 The city of Bern recorded 30 cases, while the Graubünden region had 20 cases. In addition, a few dozen cases have been reported in Geneva and Lausanne.

The causes of eye pain are attributable to direct vision of the sun during the eclipse, which caused an alteration in eye pressure. “It is important to remember that the solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon that should not be observed without eye protection,” said Dr. Müller, ophthalmology expert at the University Hospital Zurich.

The Swiss Federal Law on Vision Protection (LPV) of 1985 states that observers must wear protective goggles or special observation lenses to avoid damaging their vision. Article 4 of the LPV specifies that “observers shall use goggles or special observation lenses to observe the solar eclipse”.

The cost of treatments for eye pain has been estimated at around 500,000 Swiss francs, according to health insurance data

Operational details

Dozens in hospital for eye pain after solar eclipse

On August 10, Switzerland experienced an unusual event: the total solar eclipse. While most people have enjoyed the beauty of this natural phenomenon, some have faced unintended consequences. Dozens of people have been hospitalized for eye pain caused by looking directly at the sun during the eclipse.

Scenarios

• A border worker who is in a similar situation may need to seek medical attention immediately if they have eye pain.
• A family vacationing in a hotel in Interlaken may have had to seek help from doctors at the local hospital.
• A group of friends who decided to observe the eclipse from a height near Zion may have risked damaging their eyesight.

Eye damage

Medical experts have confirmed that eye damage can be caused by looking directly at the sun during an eclipse. “The total solar eclipse is a rare and fascinating event, but it's important to remember that the sun is a very intense source of light that can damage your eyesight if you don't look carefully,” said Dr. Müller, an ophthalmologist at Bern hospital.

Statistics

According to data from the Bern hospital, 47 patients were hospitalized with eye pain caused by looking directly at the sun during the eclipse. Another 23 patients were treated as

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Key points

Action

• If retinal damage is suspected after the solar eclipse, it is important to seek medical attention immediately
• Symptoms may occur even after days

Dozens in hospital for eye pain after solar eclipse

The recent solar eclipse caused a significant increase in cases of eye pain in Switzerland. According to data provided by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), at least 50 people have been hospitalized across the country. The most common symptoms were blurred vision, feeling of an object in the wrong position, and nausea.

Most of the cases were recorded in the cantons of Bern and Zurich. In Bern, the number of hospitalizations was the highest, with 15 cases, while in Zurich 12 cases were recorded.

According to Dr. Ursula Hänggi, Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital Zurich, “retinal damage can be caused by the intense light of the solar eclipse. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if retinal damage is suspected. ”

Legislation on eye protection during a solar eclipse is set out in the Federal Ordinance on Occupational Safety and Health (OSLA) of 19 March 2015. According to Article 9, “the employer shall provide workers working outdoors during a solar eclipse with an approved eye protection device”.

The checklist for the

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Source: tio.ch