Eiffel Tower Stairs see through?

Yes, you can see through to the ground. I don't have a fear of heights so can't comment on whether it would be manageable for someone who does as that person might start off ok, but then as they climb higher get more uncomfortable. If you aren't able to get tickets for the Eiffel Tower elevator, perhaps just enjoy the view from the ground and have an alternate plan to climb something easier where you can get a view of Paris (and one that actually includes a view of the Eiffel Tower), like the Arc de Triomphe, or take the elevator ride up to the observation level at Tour Montparnasse, or the rooftop terrace at Printemps department store.

While the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower is nice, frankly, I thought looking up at the tower from the lawns of the Champ de Mars in front of it, or Trocadero behind it, or standing directly underneath it and looking straight up overhead, was actually more interesting and made for better photos/video during the day and at night when the light show happens.

EDIT: I'll clarify my answer better - yes, like Wil said there are kick plates on the stairs that you step on, but you are able to see through the metal pieces on the sides of the steps and that is the part that might make someone with a fear of heights a little queasy which is why they might prefer the elevator ride that is quick and painless.

You can google images, stairs eiffel tower. As far as I can remember between each step is a kick plate, so you can´t see through. And as far as I know this is usually the case for stairs in public spaces for avoiding fear of hight. With any well designed stairs the steps (even the grating type) has always some overlap, so you never see a gap between each step looking down vertically, again for the same reason. Ofcourse the rest of the towers structure is as open as it can be, still today without the aid of computers a very nice piece of engineering if you ask me.

Thank you for the replies, my concern are the actual steps, looking down through the steps, that they are solid and do not have gaps between each step. I have Googled "eiffel tower stairs" and it seems to confirm solid steps with exposed sides.

I have not done it myself but found this image..... I hope it posts correctly
http://www.frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/gallery/paris-eiffel-tower/paris-copyright-french-moments-eiffel-tower-1_0.jpg

I have done them, and am not a fan of heights, iI found them OK, I kept looking up and that helped alot. You do feel safe as they are completely enclosed, bit in wired fence stuff not solid walls. I prefer taking them up, and elevator down, as going down was harder( on knees too) and you can take elevator down even though you took stairs up.

Thank you everyone, my question seems answered.