Do you have your eclipse glasses ready?
As we get closer to the total solar eclipse on April 8, here’s what to look for when picking out protective glasses to view this rare event.
“The most important thing is to make sure you have special eclipse glasses that are compliant with the ISO 12312-2 international standard for filters to view the sun directly,” explained Dr. Nicole Bajic, a surgical ophthalmologist with Cleveland Clinic. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of counterfeits floating around, so you want to make sure that it’s from an approved vendor.”
If you’re not sure where to get your eclipse glasses, Bajic said the American Astronomical Society has a list of verified vendors.
You can also check if any public places in your local community are giving out compliant eclipse glasses.
When you get your glasses, inspect them for damage and don’t use them if they’re scratched or torn.
It’s also important to keep in mind that special solar filters are needed to view the eclipse through a camera, binoculars or telescope – just wearing your eclipse glasses won’t do in this case.
Bajic said all this is needed to avoid damage to your eye and explains what might happen if you look at the sun directly without protection.
“Directly looking at the sun without something like eclipse glasses can lead to blurred vision,” Bajic said. “It can also cause a central scotoma, meaning a blind spot in the center part of your vision.”
According to Bajic, people can experience temporary or permanent vision loss from looking at the sun without protection, so be sure to wear your eclipse glasses.