How long can one look at the sun without harming eyesight? Zero! Looking at the sun is extremely hazardous as the retina lacks pain receptors. So, you won't even feel any damage👐🏻 In just a few seconds, the cells are irreversibly destroyed. The sun emits infrared and ultraviolet rays that hit the retina. And right there is an area of highly sensitive cells called the "yellow spot" – the place of greatest visual acuity.