Eye experts are warning people never to look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse, even when the sunlight appears dimmed.
Viewing a solar eclipse with the naked eye can cause serious and permanent eye damage, including solar retinopathy.
Mohamed Elalfy, consultant ophthalmologist and president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: “Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it occurs.
“Symptoms may not appear for several hours and can include blurred vision, a central blind or dark spot, distorted vision, reduced colour perception and increased sensitivity to light.”
Standard sunglasses should never be used to watch a solar eclipse because they do not block enough harmful solar radiation from reaching the retina.
For safe eclipse viewing, use certified solar eclipse glasses or create an indirect image with a pinhole projector.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk