Eye on Vision Safety During the 2024 Solar Eclipse

3/14/2024

Anticipation is building for the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, particularly for those in Navarro County who will witness the event in its entirety within the path of totality. According to NASA, totality means that the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, and completely block the face of the sun. This will result in about four and a half minutes of dusk or dawn-like darkening of the sky. Most of us will be eagerly gazing upwards during the eclipse. Nonetheless, it's crucial to prioritize eye safety. You must use special vision protection made specifically for eclipse viewing.

“The upcoming total solar eclipse is a rare opportunity for most people to witness. Being mindful of the risk of eye damage is extremely important. Staring at the sun, even briefly, can cause solar retinopathy and even blindness. Take steps to ensure the safety and enjoyment of you and your family during the eclipse.”, said Dr. Oswald Binford, an ophthalmologist at Medical Associates of Navarro County. Dr. Binford offers some tips that could safeguard your vision:

• Eclipse viewing glasses or handheld viewers must comply with ISO 12312-2 international safety standards for filters for direct sun viewing.*
• Do not use sunglasses to view the eclipse, even when it becomes dark. Eye damage can still occur.
• Make sure that children are supervised during eclipse viewing and have proper handheld viewers or glasses.
• Do not use telescopes, camera lenses, or other optical devices to view the eclipse. It could cause instant and serious eye injury. Photographs can safely be taken with cameras, using an approved solar filter.
• Do not attempt to view the eclipse directly through your cell phone; it could cause damage to your eyes and your phone. There are approved solar filters that temporarily attach to the phone camera lens allowing for viewing and photography.
• Check your eclipse glasses and viewers for scratches. Scratched lenses are not safe to use.

Safely viewing the eclipse without eye protection is possible only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s face – this period is known as totality. (You’ll know it’s safe when you can no longer see any part of the Sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer.) You can also explore indirect ways to safely enjoy the eclipse, such as the pinhole method, the optical projection method, or by observing the ground shadows cast by the sun.

*There have been counterfeit glasses on the market that are incorrectly labeled as ISO-compliant. The American Astronomical Society recommends purchasing glasses from a reputable supplier. You can learn more at https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification.

Sources:

NASA https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/
American Astronomical Society https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification
American Astronomical Society https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters

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