Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN/@dani.ponce.718

This young woman has claimed that she only sees “pixelated” light and shadows after burning her retinas while watching a partial solar eclipse nearly a decade ago.

Chilean netizen ‘Daniela Ponce’ shared a video on Facebook, viewed over 302,000 times with 700 comments, where she explains her ordeal while wearing a large pair of glasses.

In the clip, Ponce warned skygazers to take precautions when viewing a solar eclipse or even a partial eclipse like she did in 2010.

Pictures Credit: CEN/@dani.ponce.718

According to Ponce, when she watched a partial eclipse in the central Chilean city of Quilpue, “the retinas in my left and right eye were burned”.

She added: “That is why I will always need to use glasses. The sunlight tattooed my eyes forever, the light is there in my eyes.

Ponce told reporters that it is important for people to wear protective eyewear when viewing an eclipse.

After her video was widely circulated, she told local media: “I wanted to share my experience because it was very traumatic and totally unexpected.

“It was overcast and suddenly the clouds parted and the bright sunlight burned my retinas.”

She also said that she was studying law at the time, which required a lot of reading. Due to her retina problem, Ponce had to change subject and she said that she suffered from depression.

She said: “Now I can see mostly everything, but pixelated with light and shadows.

“For many years it was horrible, because I could not turn on a light in the house without needing glasses.”

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.