Essential Solar Eclipse Safety

The event of a solar eclipse, while rare and exciting, must not overshadow the importance of protecting our vision — even for a second.

Monday, April 8, 2024 a total solar eclipse will occur across parts of the United States, included in northern Vermont. This means the moon will appear to completely cover the sun, and areas will experience up to three-and-a-half minutes of complete or partial darkness between 3:20 and 3:30pm.

Directly viewing the sun during an eclipse without adequate certified eclipse glasses can readily lead to solar retinopathy. This condition occurs when the sun’s intense ultraviolet and infrared radiation burns the retina, light-sensitive brain tissue at the back of the eye that is essential to our vision. In mild cases, individuals may experience temporary vision changes such as blurred or distorted vision, or the appearance of dark spots in their central visual field. In severe cases, permanent damage to the retina occurs, leading to vision loss and even full blindness. Effects may not be felt for several hours after damage to the eye has occurred.

Most of us already know that looking directly at the sun can be harmful. What’s more, it’s uncomfortable – our natural reflex is to shade our eyes and look away. During an eclipse, when the sun is partially obscured, we can be tricked into thinking it’s safe to look up. Not so. Solar radiation is still hitting the retina and can cause permanent, severe eye damage.

For anyone planning to view the eclipse, it's crucial to your eye health to wear certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2). These specialized viewers, while often basic in their appearance, are specifically designed to block eclipse radiation. If you have a pair already, you know they are not like regular sunglasses – even pricey ones. Caution must also emphatically be exercised when using optical devices such as telescopes, binoculars, or cameras to view or photograph an eclipse. These devices amplify light rays, potentially causing even more vision damage.

I encourage you to review additional information on solar eclipse safety on the American Academy of Ophthalmology website at AAO.org.

Happy safe viewing!