Is my orchid sick?

[Starseagull]

Hi, my oldest phalaenopsis has a spot on a leaf that I do not know what it is. It looked at first like white powder, but I never saw a bug or creature on it.
The first time this happened was a few years ago, before I was really that interested in the poor thing, and in fear that it was an infection I cut that leaf and that was it. But then I saw it again a year later or so, and I cut that leaf too (so sad and stupid of me maybe but I didnt know).
Well now a few years later it has that same spot again. It’s staying the same but perhaps has darkened a bit. It’s not spreading and I dont see bugs. I have wiped the underside several times to see if there are spider mites or something but I see nothing
Does somebody have any idea?
Thank you.

[Ray]

How much light is it getting?

[Starseagull]

Not very much, it has been in a window without a lot of sun (kept blinds closed until lunch, bottom floor etc). Also it has only appeared on leaves that aren’t on top but shielded by the other leaves.
I did put it out on the balcony this year, but I haven’t before so I don’t think it could be sun damage in those instances, and also it’s on a bottom leaf like I mentioned.
I’m not finding anything that looks the same online, very strange!

[Orchid Whisperer]

It still looks like sun damage.

Regardless, look at the damage over the course of several days. If it is not spreading or getting worse, attribute it to sun damage (or other environmental damage), give the plant good care, and that's it.

If it does spread or get worse, you might need to look closer for a specific problem that can be treated.

[Roberta]

One of the sneaky things about sun damage - especially in one spot - is that you don't realize that the sun has gotten around a barrier (shade cloth, blinds, etc.) for a few minutes unless you happen to be there when it is happening. I had that experience... in my greenhouse (which I thought was properly shaded) I found a burned spot on a plant, nothing on surrounding plants. I was completely puzzled. It was only when I walked in there at 10 AM on a hot day (so that the vent was open) did I see the light beam. For probably 5 minutes that spot was getting unfiltered sun from the open vent, the rest of the time everything seemed normal. (And on cooler days, the vent was not open at that time, on hot days at other times of the day the sun didn't hit the spot where the vent was open) That 5 minutes was enough to do damage.