The total solar eclipse of 8 April is fast approaching. With tickets being booked months ago by people eager to travel to the path of totally across the US to witness the rare celestial event, it’s important to remember that a few essential safety tips must be followed.
“It’s natural to want to view the eclipse, but you cannot look directly at the Sun, even briefly, without risking permanent eye damage” warns Rob Lapporte, an emergency room physician and Medical Director at Legacy ER and Urgent Care in Coppell, Texas.
Dr Lapporte recommends obtaining eclipse glasses only from reputable vendors approved by the American Astronomical Society. Some uncertified glasses claim ISO compliance but may not actually provide sufficient protection. He also stresses that the glasses are so dark that they are unsafe to wear while walking or driving. “Once you have your ISO-certified glasses, stay in one place, put them on, and then look up at the eclipse”, he advises. “Do not try to move around while wearing them.”
Regular sunglasses, even stacked together, do not provide adequate protection. You must use special ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses.
Dr Rob Lapporte
The portal created for watching the solar eclipse in Dallas-Fort Worth, Total Eclipse DFW, gives the following comprehensive advice on how to have the best and safest eclipse viewing experience:
- Wear your glasses properly: Ensure the glasses fit snugly over your eyes, covering your entire field of vision. Do not peek around the frames while looking at the Sun.
- Use glasses at the right times: Wear your solar eclipse glasses during the lead-up to and following totality, when the moon doesn’t completely block the Sun’s rays. Remove the glasses only during totality to experience the eclipse’s full effect.
- Ensure your glasses are compliant and approved: Confirm that your glasses meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard by checking if the manufacturer or reseller is listed on the American Astronomical Society’s website.
- Inspect your glasses for damage: Check for scratches, punctures, or defects that could allow harmful sunlight to penetrate the lens. Do not use damaged glasses.
- Avoid prolonged viewing: Limit your viewing time to brief intervals and take breaks to rest your eyes.
- Share your glasses with others if necessary only if you are sure neither of you has a contagious eye condition.
- Test your glasses before the eclipse: You should only be able to see the Sun itself through the glasses, appearing like an intense orange ball. Everything else should be black.
- Do not move around while wearing the glasses: The dark lenses will obscure your vision. Remove the glasses before moving to prevent injury.
- Supervise children closely: Ensure children understand how to use the glasses safely and monitor their use to prevent eye injury.
For those planning to photograph the eclipse, camera lenses also require special solar filters to avoid damage to the camera’s sensor and the photographer’s eyes. Failing to use proper protective equipment risks solar retinopathy and permanent damage to the retina, which can cause lasting central vision loss, floaters and other visual disturbances. Anyone experiencing worrying visual symptoms after the eclipse should see an ophthalmologist immediately.
