THE solar eclipse will be visible for millions of Americans on April 8, 2024, making many of them eager to see it — but how you watch it matters, because it can be dangerous for your eyes.
A a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, block sunlight. When the moon blocks part of the sun, it is a partial solar eclipse, but when the moon aligns with the sun, blocking all of its light, a total solar eclipse happens, NASA explains. Either way, you need eye protection when watching.
“The solar eclipse will be beautiful, so I hope everyone experiences it — but they have to experience it the right way,” Dr. Jason P. Brinton, an ophthalmologist and medical director of Brinton Vision, told Saint Louis.
Here’s what you need to know to stay safe.
Why is watching a solar eclipse dangerous?
Looking at the sun, even when it is partially covered, such as during an eclipse, can cause eye damage.
There is no safe dose of solar ultraviolet rays or infrared radiation, said Dr. Yehia Hashad, an ophthalmologist, retina specialist and chief medical officer of eye health company Bausch + Lomb.
“A very small dose could harm some people,” he said. “That’s why we say the partial eclipse could also be damaging. And that’s why we protect our eyes from both partial sun and full sun.”
Some say that during a total eclipse, it is possible to safely view the brief period when the moon completely blocks the sun without eye protection. But experts warn against this.
“The entire eclipse lasts only about 1 to 3 minutes depending on geographic location, and sunlight may appear suddenly as the moon continues to move,” notes a viewing guide from the eclipse published in JAMA, adding: “even a few seconds of observing the eclipse”. sun during an eclipse” can damage your vision temporarily or permanently.
Do I need special glasses to watch eclipses?
Yes. Eclipse glasses are required to protect your eyes if you wish to observe the eclipse.
Regular sunglasses don’t provide enough protection for eclipse viewing, even if you stack several of them.
“There is no amount of sunglasses people can wear to compensate for the filtering provided by standard ISO filters and eclipse glasses,” Brinton said.
According to NASA, you also shouldn’t view the eclipse through a camera lens, phone, binoculars, or telescope, even if you wear eclipse glasses. The sun’s rays can pass through the lens and cause serious eye injury.
Eclipse goggles must comply with the international safety standard ISO 12312-2, according to NASA, and must have an “ISO” label printed on them to show they are compliant. The American Astronomical Society has a list of approved solar finders.
Can’t find them or are they sold out near you? You can also make homemade viewers, which allow you to observe the eclipse indirectly – just don’t accidentally look at the sun when using one.
How to Keep Children Safe During the Solar Eclipse
Since this eclipse is expected to occur as many schools across the country close, it may be tempting for students to view it without taking proper safety precautions when traveling to and from their bus. This is why some school districts are cancel classes early so that children can enjoy the event safely with their families.
Dr. Avnish Deobhakta, a vitreoretinal surgeon at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary at Mount Sinai, said parents should also be careful because it can be difficult for children to listen or keep solar eclipse glasses on.
“Actually, in my opinion, you kind of want to avoid them looking at the eclipse, if possible,” he said. “Never look directly at the sun, always wear the right eclipse sunglasses if you plan to look at the sun, and make sure they are from a reputable source.”
Brinton recommends that everyone start “observing” the eclipse as early as possible, by looking at professional photos and videos of an eclipse online or visiting a local planetarium.
That way you “have an idea of what to expect,” he said.
He also recommends the Prevent Blindness Foundation, which offers resources for families on eclipse safety.
What happens if you watch a solar eclipse without eclipse glasses?
Although your eyes probably won’t hurt at the moment if you watch the eclipse unprotected, due to reduced brightness and eye damage, beware: The rays can still cause damage.
The harm may not be immediately apparent. Sometimes the problems begin to appear one to a few days after the event. It could affect just one eye or both eyes.
And even if some regain normal visual function, the damage is sometimes permanent.
“Often there will be some recovery of vision in the first few months afterward, but sometimes there is no recovery and sometimes there is a degree to which it is permanent,” Brinton said.
How long do you have to look at the eclipse to damage your eyes?
According to experts, spending time observing the eclipse without protection is too long.
“If someone looks at the eclipse briefly, if it’s extremely brief, in some cases there won’t be any damage. But in some cases damage can occur even in a fraction of a second,” Brinton said. He said he has had patients with solar retinopathy, the official name for the condition.
Deobhakta treated a patient who was watching the solar eclipse of 2017 for 20 seconds without appropriate eye protection. She now takes permanent crescent-shaped damage that interferes with her vision.
“The crescent that is engraved in the retina, the patient sees it in black in her visual field,” he said. “The visual deficit she suffers from will never go away.”
How to Tell if You Damaged Your Eyes from Watching the Eclipse
Signs and symptoms of eye damage from watching an eclipse include headaches, blurred vision, dark spots, changes in the way you see colors, lines and shapes.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for solar retinopathy.
“I think seeing an eye care professional to solidify the diagnosis and for education is reasonable,” Brinton said, but added, “Right now we’re not doing anything about that. Wait and give it some time and the body tends to heal. take a measurement. »
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