[theoh]

"What kind of damage" is pretty well-known.

See e.g. "Light-Induced Damage to the Retina" http://photobiology.info/Rozanowska.html

[njarboe]

You are right. Many experiments on animal eyes are highly likely to translate well to human eyes.

With a little more thought maybe all these warnings exaggerating the dangers of the sun to your eyes are a good idea. It seems that humans know or learn "Don't stare into the sun" is a good idea but during an eclipse some people forget that.