If all goes as planned, a spectacular and potentially dangerous event will be seen April 8. All should make an attempt to experience, enjoy and safely view the total solar eclipse.  Proper eye protection will be key.

The sun is incredibly bright and directly looking at it for anything longer than a few seconds can result in damage to the back of the eye. The ultraviolet and short visible wavelengths can overwhelm the cells in the back of the eye and if those cells are exposed to super-intense light for too long of a time which is anything longer than a few seconds then those cells can be permanently damaged.

If those cells are permanently damaged then an individual will lose some extent of their central vision.

Due to the hours long duration of an eclipse, individuals may innocently glance at the eclipse for a few seconds at a time, but then repeatedly make glances this over the course of the event.  These glances add up and by the end of the eclipse someone may have viewed the eclipse for a minute or two and put their eyes at significant risk. 

The good news is that with some simple precautions, such as wearing eclipse glasses labeled with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12312-2 which states that the device complies with the eclipse viewing standard.

With these glasses you can safely and comfortably look at the full sun or partial eclipses for as long as you would like. Other safe viewing options include welding filters with shade numbers 12 to 14 or indirect viewing options. Never use binoculars or a telescope without proper filters as these can condense the light delivered to the eye and which can result in rapid eye damage.

Here are a few ways to best assure you are purchasing and have appropriate eclipse glasses:

• Once you purchase a pair, inspect them for any scratches, holes, or tears in the lenses – if present then do not use.
• If intact then place them on and look at a bright light bulb in your home or your cell phone flashlight – you should barely be able to see it.
• If that seems to be the case then use them to view the sun – you should be able to comfortably view the sun for an extended period of time.

If you think that you have suffered damage to your eyes following the eclipse then please consult with your eye care professional. There is no known cure for eclipse induced damage to the back of the eye, but there are known and easy ways to prevent this from happening.

Excerpts taken from: Spectacular and dangerous. How to safely enjoy 2024 solar eclipse. by Aaron Zimmerman  Guest Columnist