topic Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse in Wellness

Please read about viewing the eclipse

SeaMaiden — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 01:05:30 GMT

Michael Schecter

August 11 at 8:33pm ·
As an Optometrist , I want to express concern that I have about the solar eclipse on Monday, Aug 21. There are serious risks associated with viewing a solar eclipse directly, even with the use of solar filter glasses. Everyone should keep in mind if they or their children are considering this.
We have to keep in mind that some people will encounter the inability to control every aspect of this exercise. For instance, true solar eclipse glasses are made for adults, do not fit children well and should not be used without direct parental supervision. If the solar glasses do not filter out 100% of the harmful UV rays, if they are not used absolutely perfectly, or should there be a manufacturing defect in any of them, this will result in permanent and irreversible vision loss for any eye exposed. Just like sunburn to the skin, the effects are not felt or noticed immediately. I have a great fear that I will have patients in my office on Tuesday, Aug 22 who woke up with hazy, blurry vision that I cannot fix. It is a huge risk to watch the eclipse even with the use of solar glasses. There is no absolutely safe way to do so other than on TV.
The biggest danger with children is ensuring proper use without direct parental supervision. As the eclipse passes over many places, including Columbus, the moon will not block 100% of the sun. Because so much of its light is blocked by the moon, if one looks at it without full protection, it does not cause pain as looking at the sun does on a regular day. Normally if you try to look at the sun, it physically hurts and you can't see anything. During an eclipse, however, it is easier to stare for a bit....and even less than 30 seconds of exposure to a partially eclipsed sun, you can burn a blind spot right to your most precious central vision. With solar glasses you can't see ANYTHING except the crescent of light of the sun. Kids could have a tendency to want to peak around the filter to see what is actually going on up there. One failure, just one, where education and supervision fail, will have such a devastating consequence.
Please, please be safe. Watch it on television.
PS Feel free to share this post.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

chlema — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 01:14:38 GMT

@SeaMaiden Thank you for this informative post. They have been warning us on our local newscasts but I fear some people will ignore the warnings and suffer the consequences. Your post really covered the danger.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

Julie928 — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 01:14:51 GMT

@SeaMaiden ~ Thank you for sharing. I plan on watching exactly as he stressed ~ on TV! :-)

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

laj3169 — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 01:24:14 GMT

Thank you Michael for this very valuable information!!

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

golding76 — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 01:26:33 GMT

Thank you, SeaMaiden. I appreciate learning this.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

ValuSkr — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 02:13:54 GMT

Thank you for this. I think I'll make a pinhole viewer instead of wearing the glasses. Hope it works and I'm not embarrassed.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

sandraskates — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 02:28:59 GMT

You can do something as simple as putting a pinhole in a piece of paper, aim that toward the sun while you look down at the cement. You'll see the cresent cut-out shadow on the ground.

Last time there was a decent eclipse I could even see the muliple shadows on the ground; I think they were being filtered through leaves on a tree.

Pretty cool and no damage to the eyes!

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

september — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 03:27:48 GMT

I, along with millions of other people in this country, will be watching the eclipse using the recommended viewing advice.

if you don't ever again see me posting here after the 21st, it will be because I've lost my vision.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

jackthebear — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 11:10:11 GMT

as a kid you were told not to look at sun during an eclipse, it's not new. Of course now people need to be told everything 10K times

I don't care about it much,

. . .

debic — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 11:14:06 GMT

We're using welding goggles with an extra dark plate.

Re: . . .

ValuSkr — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 11:23:08 GMT

@debic wrote:
We're using welding goggles with an extra dark plate.

Make sure the filter's shade number is 12 or higher. It isn't safe if it's lower: See the last paragraph:

https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

LindaSal — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:47:52 GMT

@SeaMaidenThank you for this post, the more information out there, the better.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

SilleeMee — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:59:53 GMT

It is 100% safe to watch it on TV. I don't understand why anyone would want to view it any other way. I guess it would be like going to the Super Bowl, but more hazardous, vs watching it on TV. Thanks for posting @SeaMaiden.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

Bri36 — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:02:39 GMT

Thank you for posting this.

I will not take a chance and have my eyes damaged...

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

QueenDanceALot — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:33:00 GMT

T.V. for me. I will not take any chance on damaging my eyesight. Just doesn't make any sense to me to do so.

And honestly, if I miss it on T.V. I really won't care.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

SilleeMee — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:57:41 GMT

@QueenDanceALot wrote:
T.V. for me. I will not take any chance on damaging my eyesight. Just doesn't make any sense to me to do so.

And honestly, if I miss it on T.V. I really won't care.

There will be re-runs, no doubt about it.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

september — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:28:08 GMT

From the main page of the American Optometry Asssociation website (aoa.org):

Here are four ways to safely view a solar eclipse:

Use approved solar eclipse viewers. The only safe way to view a partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as "eclipse glasses" or viewers that meet international standard ISO 12312-2 for safe viewing. Sunglasses, smoked glass, unfiltered telescopes or magnifiers, and polarizing filters are unsafe. If you can't find eclipse viewers, build a pinhole projector to watch the eclipse.
Technique of the pros. Before looking at the sun, cover your eyes with the eclipse viewers while standing still. Glance at the sun, turn away and then remove your filter. Do not remove the filter while looking at the sun.
Totality awesome. Only within the path of totality-and once the moon completely blocks the sun-can eclipse viewers safely be removed to view totality. Once the sun begins reappearing, however, viewers must be replaced.
Visit your doctor of optometry. If you should experience discomfort or vision problems following the eclipse, visit your local doctor of optometry for a comprehensive eye examination.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

sunshine45 — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:33:06 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
It is 100% safe to watch it on TV. I don't understand why anyone would want to view it any other way. I guess it would be like going to the Super Bowl, but more hazardous, vs watching it on TV. Thanks for posting @SeaMaiden.

wasnt even tempted to use any type of glasses, approved or not.

i will be watching it on TV and watching the partial darkness unfold here in our area, where we are expected to have 80% totality.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

september — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:33:29 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
It is 100% safe to watch it on TV. I don't understand why anyone would want to view it any other way. I guess it would be like going to the Super Bowl, but more hazardous, vs watching it on TV. Thanks for posting @SeaMaiden.

I would much rather go to the Super Bowl in person, than watch it on tv. Same with the eclipse or just about anything.

I'd have to say that most of the things I find challenging, interesting, or fulfilling, are not 100% safe. I'll take my chances and enjoy my life without being overly fearful.

Re: Please read about viewing the eclipse

gidgetgh — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:35:03 GMT

@SeaMaiden- thanks for posting this.

This was the Facebook post I was referring to in the thread I started in Community Chat regarding the eclipse. While my husband and I have "approved glasses", I'm pretty certain we're going to stay inside and watch it on tv and a lot of that decision came from reading that Facebook post.