How to safely watch a Solar Eclipse?
Torontonians and Canadians will get to experience a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. It’s important to remember the significance of protecting our vision during this unique event.
What is A Total Solar Eclipse? The moon completely covers the sun, blocking it’s entire disk. This results in a brief period of darkness known as totality, where the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, becomes visible. Total solar eclipses are mesmerizing celestial events, but are visible only within a narrow path on Earth. The next solar eclipse won’t happen again in Canada until 2044! We recommend to keep your eyes safe while enjoying this historic event.
This event is an exciting time in our universe, but our eye care professionals at Kodak Lens Vision Centres wants to make sure you’re taking the proper precautions to keep your eyes safe when viewing the eclipse. During this event, a brief glance at the sun can lead to eye damage, potentially causing vision loss.
What is Solar Retinopathy?
Solar or eclipse retinopathy refers to photochemical injury to the macular tissue (central retina). It’s commonly associated with sungazing or eclipse viewing. A short duration of exposure, as little as a few seconds glancing at the sun, can cause solar retinopathy.
What are symptoms with Solar Retinopathy?
- Blurry vision
- Vision loss in the center of your sight
- Eye pain
If you experience any symptoms such as vision loss from viewing the solar eclipse, you should see an optometrist or eye care professional immediately.
When viewing the solar eclipse, please take the following eye health safety precautions:
- Protect your eyes at all times using safe solar viewing glasses or a safe handheld solar viewer that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
- It’s important to make sure that the glasses are not torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged before use.
- Do not look at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer, as the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and can cause serious eye injury.
- Always supervise children using solar viewers.
What to do if you get direct eye exposure from the eclipse?
Prevention is the best way to avoid vision loss. Please remember to wear protective eyewear during an eclipse. If you experience any symptoms of eye damage or vision symptoms after accidentally looking directly at the sun, seek immediate treatment from an optometrist or eye care professional.
Unfortunately, there is no known treatment for solar retinopathy, and those affected have to wait for symptoms to improve. Your eye doctor may schedule follow-up exams to monitor you for any vision loss. Most patients improve on their own over 3-6 months. Vision changes that are still present 6 months after the damage may be permanent. Some people will continue to have permanent distortions and blind spots in their central vision. Seek advice from an optometrist for any eye health or visual concerns.
