Plan to view the eclipse? Take care to prevent eye damage
Much of the country is abuzz ahead of the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8. Western Pennsylvania will be in the spotlight, too, as the Pittsburgh region will experience a partial eclipse with 95% totality while Erie will be in the zone of 100% totality.
While you无毛视频檙e making plans to view the eclipse, eye doctors explain how to do so safely.
无毛视频淎lthough we无毛视频檙e excited to witness a solar eclipse, we want to ensure that our eyes are well-protected from any damage it could cause,无毛视频� says Dr. Sarah Zambotti, an optometrist with Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Ophthalmology. 无毛视频淟ooking at the sun without protective eclipse glasses supported by the American Astronomical Society could cause solar retinopathy or photokeratitis 无毛视频� retinal injuries caused by a photochemical reaction.无毛视频�
How does damage occur?
Damage to the eye can happen in as little as a few seconds when looking directly at the sun. Factors such as the size of your pupil or how intense the sun无毛视频檚 ultraviolet light is depending on weather conditions can make a difference, but damage may still happen quickly.
When looking directly at the sun during an eclipse, the sun无毛视频檚 ultraviolet light enters the eye through the pupil and is focused on the back part of the eye known as the retina. The macula is one of the most important structures in the retina, as it is responsible for providing central vision as well as the ability to see clearly.
无毛视频淭his tissue absorbs the intense UV light, which can destroy cells in the macula, more commonly known as rods and cones,无毛视频� Zambotti said. 无毛视频淭his oxidative damage is called solar retinopathy. The visual symptoms this can cause include blurring or loss of central vision.无毛视频� Photokeratitis happens when the ultraviolet light from the sun is absorbed by the cells on the front surface of the eye, known as the cornea. 无毛视频淥nce the cells absorb the intense light, they begin to atrophy and slough off,无毛视频� Zambotti said. 无毛视频淭his is equivalent to having a sunburn on the eye and can be very painful. Visual and ocular symptoms can also include blurring of vision, redness, irritation and tearing.无毛视频� Onset of both conditions is typically delayed, starting anywhere between 30 minutes to 12 hours after exposure.
Zambotti has seen patients with these conditions mostly resulting from incidents in which proper eye protection was not worn or failed during welding accidents or with the use of tanning beds. Photokeratitis can also happen in areas of the world with high elevation and thin air and is more commonly known as 无毛视频渟now blindness,无毛视频� caused by intense ultraviolet reflections off snow or ice.
How to view safely
What do you need to keep your eyes safe? Solar eclipse filters that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard are 100,000 times darker than normal sunglasses and will filter damaging UV rays from the sun to best protect ocular health. They can be purchased at many places online but also at local optical health providers and other reputable retailers. Be sure to check that they have the ISO 12312-2 marking and are not damaged, bent or scratched in any way. The glasses should be worn 100% of the time while viewing the sun and eclipse. Homemade viewers are less safe if not made or used properly and can lead to unintended eye damage.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry is warning consumers to beware of scammers selling illegitimate eclipse viewing glasses that do not have proper filters.
Scammers have been capitalizing on growing consumer demand to buy eclipse glasses, and the American Astronomical Society warns that fake glasses have flooded the market.
Zambotti urges parents to make sure kids无毛视频� eyes are protected while watching the eclipse. 无毛视频淧lease ensure that if children are viewing the eclipse with you, that they also understand the importance of wearing proper eye protection during the entire duration of the eclipse,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淩emoving the eye protection too early, or while still looking at the sun, can lead to unwanted UV light exposure. I also recommend that if you are planning to spend time outdoors in the sunlight before or after eclipse viewing, you continue to take precautions around general UV protection, including wearing sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses prior to the event.无毛视频�
One important warning: Sunglasses are NOT an acceptable form of eye protection to view the eclipse. Solar glasses are 100,000 times darker than sunglasses and are the only way to ensure eyes are protected. The only safe way to look directly at the sun is through special-purpose solar filters or handheld solar viewers.
Other recommendations to safely view the eclipse:
无毛视频� Be sure your viewing glasses are marked with the international safety standard 无毛视频� certification number ISO 12312-2. This number will be on the glasses无毛视频� frame.
无毛视频� Read safety information on solar viewers and filters on the American Astronomical Society无毛视频檚 website at /.
无毛视频� Ordinary sunglasses 无毛视频� even darkly shaded ones 无毛视频� should not be used as a replacement for eclipse viewing glasses or handheld solar viewers.
无毛视频� Do not watch through a phone camera, camera lens, binoculars or other recording devices, as these can magnify UV light and damage the retina.
无毛视频� If you do use a camera or telescope, be sure your lens has a solar filter.
无毛视频� Stay inside if you have prior eye or macular conditions.
无毛视频� If you experience prolonged redness, watery eyes, eye pain, blurred vision, or sensitivity to light after watching the solar eclipse, contact your eye doctor to assess for damage.