After the great 2017 total solar eclipse, many eclipse watchers reported they glanced at the sun without wearing special glasses for eclipse viewing. Prior to the much-anticipated event, media outlets everywhere warned people not to look directly at the sun or risk serious eye damage.
Ophthalmologists state that a mere 10 seconds of viewing the sun without specially designed glasses for eclipse viewing can result in some type of irreversible damage.
Damage from the flood of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can manifest within hours to a day or two. Symptoms can include blurred vision, floating dark spots, and, in some cases, blindness.
In fact, Google reported a huge spike in their search engine after the 2017 eclipse for “my eyes hurt” and “eye pain after viewing the sun.”
It is unfortunate because these symptoms and damage to the eyes could have been prevented if only the viewer wore special solar glasses for eclipse viewing.
Certified solar glasses work by preventing UVA and UVB rays from reaching the retina. UVB rays can destroy the protective surface of the eye causing blurred vision. UVA rays can damage the eye’s lens, retina, and the macula, causing macular degeneration and blindness.
Typical sunglasses only protect the wearer from 10 to 20 percent of visible light and Ultraviolet rays. Solar eclipse glasses are made of black polymer and are 100,000 times darker than sunglasses and block all Ultraviolet rays and visible light.
When selecting glasses for eclipse viewing, ensure they are not scratched, bent, or altered in any way. When you put on the glasses, you should only be able to see the sun. If you can see trees or the ground, then do not wear them.
Wearing certified solar glasses to look directly at the sun is the only safe way to protect the eyes from permanent damage.
