Eyes |
August 19, 2017

SOLAR ECLIPSEBefore you head outside on Monday, Aug. 21, to catch a glimpse of the Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017, astronomy experts and medical professionals say it is crucial to take special precautions to protect your eyes from serious damage.

They also say it’s vital to use special solar filters to avoid damage to your camera lens or light sensor if you’re shooting the eclipse with professional devices like an SLR or DSLR camera — although there’s some debate about whether solar filters are needed for smartphone cameras.

Experts say special solar glasses must be worn to avoid eye damage when looking at the solar eclipse. (Yomiuri Shimbun | MCT)

Protect your eyes

Stop before you look up at the sun, and make sure you are wearing special solar glasses designed to protect your eyes from serious damage. That’s the advice being stressed by scientists, astronomers and eye doctors all across the nation.

Even on a normal day, when there’s no eclipse, you never should look directly at the sun without using solar glasses with protective lenses that conform to international safety standards, experts say.

How do you know if your solar glasses are legit? Make sure they are stamped with “ISO 12312-2” and manufactured by one of the many companies endorsed by NASA and the American Astronomical Society. Check this list of reputable vendors of solar filters, and beware of phony products being sold in some stores and on the internet.

Experts also say you should be wary of using solar glasses that are old, because they might not conform to the latest safety standards, and to avoid using glasses with torn or cracked solar filters.

solar-eclipse-glasses-3.JPG
Experts say special solar glasses must be worn to avoid eye damage when looking directly at the solar eclipse. (Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Potential eye damage

If you look directly at the sun without wearing protective solar glasses, eye damage can occur within seconds of exposure, according to Marilyn Gordon, medical director for UnitedHealthcare of New Jersey.

“The sun is incredibly bright – some 400,000 times brighter than a full moon. For this reason, any amount of exposure can cause short-term and/or long-term damage,” Gordon said.

“Short-term issues can include solar keratitis, which is similar to a sunburn of the cornea (the front part of the eye). This can cause eye pain and light sensitivity, with symptoms often occurring within 24 hours after exposure,” she noted. “Long-term issues can include solar retinopathy, which is when the sun burns a hole in the retinal tissues, usually occurring at the fovea. This can cause loss of central vision, with symptoms occurring immediately to two weeks after exposure. Depending on the severity of the retinopathy, vision problems can last for months or be permanent.”

What should you look for during the total solar eclipse? A few out-of-this world highlights
On Aug. 21, 2017, the moon will temporarily block the sun’s powerful rays. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Don’t use regular sunglasses

Although it might be tempting if you’re unable to find a pair of protective solar glasses, experts warn you should not look at the sun with regular sunglasses, even those that are very dark or have a high UV rating. Regular sunglasses will not protect your eyes from infrared radiation, Gordon and other medical experts noted.

Two other options if you can’t find solar glasses: Hand-held solar viewers or welder glasses. The hand-held viewers must be certified for safety standards, just like the solar glasses, and  the welder glasses must be Shade 12 or higher.

Eclipse Glasses, Season's Must Have For Upcoming Eclipse Viewing
Experts strongly recommend wearing special solar filter glasses to avoid eye damage during the solar eclipse. (Spencer Platt | Getty Images)

Symptoms to look for

If you happen to ignore all the experts’ warnings and look at the solar eclipse without wearing protective solar glasses, keep in mind that often there are no immediate signs of eye damage, Gordon said.

“Symptoms can occur immediately, within several hours or even weeks after exposure,” the doctor noted. “Potential signs of damage include sensitivity to light, eye pain and loss of vision in one or both eyes.”

If you experience any of those symptoms, you should see an eye care professional for a thorough exam.