While it's not definitively documented that anyone went completely blind solely from staring at the sun, both Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei are associated with instances involving the sun and vision problems.
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Isaac Newton: As a young man in his twenties, Newton experimented with optics and reportedly stared at the reflection of the sun in a mirror. This resulted in temporary blindness. His vision recovered, suggesting the damage wasn't permanent.
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Galileo Galilei: Galileo made observations of the sun, often near sunrise or sunset, or through projections. While he did eventually become blind in his seventies, many believe that it was unrelated to his solar observations and more related to his age and other health factors. Solar retinopathy was far less known at the time, and he likely didn't have the protective filters available today.
It's important to note that staring directly at the sun, even for a short period, can cause serious damage to the eyes, known as solar retinopathy. This can lead to permanent vision impairment.
Therefore, while Newton experienced temporary blindness related to sunlight, Galileo's blindness is more likely related to age and other health issues, and there's no definitive proof that his solar observations caused it. Neither case provides a direct answer of someone going completely blind solely from sun gazing.
