Are you ready for the solar eclipse across America?
Dr. Martha Morrow, Guest Columnist
After practicing optometry in Northwest Alabama since the 1970s, I have been intending to write some “eye facts” to help the people understand questions that I get every day. I realize that there are concerns everyone has about their eyes, eye health and eye safety. With the eclipse coming, I decided that now is the time to start sharing some of these facts!
Aug. 21, 2017, all of the United States will have a solar eclipse. The moon will cover at least part of the sun for two to three hours. Halfway through, anyone within a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina will experience a brief total eclipse. The moon will completely block the sun’s bright face for up to 2 minutes, 40 seconds. Day will turn into night, and (weather permitting) one of nature’s most awesome sights will become visible: the sun’s shimmering outer atmosphere, or corona.
The American Optometric Association, in partnership with the American Astronomical Society, is providing detailed information so that you can safely view the eclipse.
Some safety factors to remember when viewing a solar eclipse:
- Use approved solar eclipse viewers. The only safe way to view a partially-eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or viewers that meet international standard ISO 12312-2 for safe viewing. Sunglasses, smoked glass, unfiltered telescopes or magnifiers and polarizing filters are unsafe. If you can’t find eclipse viewers, build a pinhole projector to watch the eclipse.
- Technique of the pros. Before looking at the sun, cover your eyes with the eclipse viewers while standing still. Glance at the sun, turn away and then remove your filter. Do not remove the filter while looking at the sun.
- Totality awesome! Only within the path of totality – and once the moon completely blocks the sun – can eclipse viewers safely be removed to view totality. Once the sun begins reappearing, however, viewers must be replaced.
- If you should experience discomfort or vision problems following the eclipse, visit your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye examination.
You should never look at the sun directly without equipment that’s specifically designed for looking at the sun. Even using binoculars or a telescope, you could severely damage your eyes or even go blind!
Solar eclipses themselves are safe, but looking at anything as bright as the sun is not safe without proper protection. And no, sunglasses do not count. Here is a link with directions to build a pinhole projector, if needed: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/
Do not look through a telescope, binoculars or camera without proper solar filter, even if you are wearing eclipse glasses! Exposing your eyes without proper eye protection during a solar eclipse can cause “eclipse blindness,” or retinal burns, also known as solar retinopathy.
Please enjoy this rare event, but be careful!
