Looking directly at a solar eclipse, even for a few seconds, can cause serious and permanent eye damage, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists has warned. The safest way to watch the eclipse is indirectly, through a livestream or television broadcast.
“Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people may not feel the damage occurring,” explains Mohamed Elalfy, president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
The college recorded about 70 cases of vision problems following the 1999 total solar eclipse. Around 40% of those affected had looked directly at the Sun for less than one minute.
Anyone experiencing blurred vision, blind spots or any other change in their eyesight after viewing the Sun should seek urgent advice from an optometrist or other eye-care professional.
Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, says certified eclipse glasses are “very, very different” from ordinary sunglasses, which do not provide adequate protection.
“They block out so much light that you can’t see anything through them except the Sun,” she told the PA news agency.
The UK Health Security Agency warns that regular sunglasses may reduce glare and make it feel more comfortable to look at the Sun for longer, increasing the risk of severe eye damage.
Never use binoculars, telescopes or a camera viewfinder to look at a solar eclipse, even while wearing eclipse glasses. Their magnifying effect can intensify sunlight and overwhelm the glasses’ protection, potentially causing permanent sight loss.
If you do not have certified eclipse glasses, or prefer not to look at the eclipse directly, a pinhole projector is a safe alternative.
You can make a simple pinhole projector with a sheet of card, or create a larger version using a cardboard box to view the eclipse indirectly.
“We’re not going to get one this good for a really long time,” Bell says. “It’s important not to miss it, but being prepared and protecting your eyes is essential.”
Source: www.bbc.co.uk