Tips on how to safely view this once-in-a-lifetime event
On Aug. 21, millions of people in the U.S. will see day turn to night as a total solar eclipse passes over North America. The last time this happened from coast to coast was 1918. Temperatures will drop rapidly as the moon completely covers the sun. You will be able to see the spectacular colors and light of the sun’s atmosphere, a sight revealed to us only during a total solar eclipse.
While you cannot completely prepare yourself for the sight of a total solar eclipse, ophthalmologists — physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care —want you to be prepared with proper eye protection. Viewing even the smallest sliver of a crescent sun peeking out from behind the moon is enough to cause irreversible damage to your vision.
Dr. Krebs has treated patients who have lost vision to the sun.
“A solar eclipse such as the one on view Monday is an amazing event that should be experienced by everyone in the eclipse path,” said Dr. Krebs. “It is essential, however, that viewing is done safely. Viewing the sun directly, even for brief periods, can cause permanent damage to the retina and result in blindness. I have patients who viewed the sun 40 years ago, who remain without central vision in their affected eyes.”
Dr. Krebs explains that the lenses in your eyes act like a magnifying glass, one that is 5 times more powerful than a handheld magnifier. Think about how you can use that typical handheld magnifier to focus the sun to burn holes in paper. That’s what happens when you look at the sun without eye protection. You focus the sun’s light on the retina, burning holes in light-sensitive photoreceptor cells, causing blindness.
There are no exceptions to the rules for safely viewing a partial solar eclipse. To make sure people have the facts, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has teamed up with the American Astronomical Society to offer these five tips:
- Use specially designed solar eclipse glasses and viewers to block the sun’s harmful rays. Ordinary sunglasses, even dark ones, are not strong enough to protect your eyes. To date, only four manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers meet international safety standards. Beware as many imitation glasses are being sold on the market.
- Inspect your solar filter before the eclipse, and don’t use it if it’s scratched or damaged.
- Another option is to view the eclipse through #14 welder’s glass. That’s much darker than the shades arc welders typically wear.
- Use solar filters on camera lenses, binoculars, and telescopes.
- Do not use solar eclipse glasses to look through a camera, binoculars or a telescope. The sun can melt the filter and damage your eyes.
If you were lucky enough to secure a pair of solar eclipse glasses or viewer, check that they confirm to the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard certification. There have been reports of “fakes”. Be careful, and be sure they have come from a reputable supplier.
For those of you that do NOT have these special solar eclipse filters, think back to your elementary/middle school days when “cereal box projectors” were all the rage. For directions on how to make one see https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/. This would be a fun project with the kids!
To help ensure people get the facts about how to safely view the solar eclipse, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has created a special infographic.
Lastly, go out and enjoy this remarkable event. But do it safely. If you cannot obtain certified filters, find a different way to enjoy. But DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE! Protect your vision today and always.