Eye-Saving Eclipse Tips That May Surprise You
People are getting excited about Monday's total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks out the sun!
Though the eclipse is only visible for a couple minutes, looking directly at it can cause permanent damage to your sight. Using these to view the eclipse can cause loss of color and/or central vision [1]:
Quick glances or squinting at a partial eclipse [2]
Cell phones
Sunglasses, including dark or polarized
Unfiltered camera or telescope lenses
Pay careful attention to whether the sun is fully eclipsed! Total eclipse only happens along a relatively narrow path across the country, for a short amount of time.
Eclipse Phases. NASA
NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce says, "That crescent of sun is glowing every bit as brightly as it would on a day when there isn't a solar eclipse."[2] If planning to view the eclipse directly, protect your eyes with eclipse glasses. For direct viewing, you need ISO 12312-2 protective glasses. Buy them locally from of the a few of the following retailers:
7-Eleven
Lowe's
Walmart
Toys "R" us
Do not use wrinkled or scratched lenses, or lenses older than 3 years.
Stanford Solar Center has resources on how to project the eclipse for indirect viewing.
4 minute video on eyes, UV rays, and eclipse viewing
For more information visit:
Safe viewing!
Workplace Wellness Wednesday is an awareness bulletin to help you make healthy lifestyle choices. It is not a substitute for your healthcare provider.
No affiliations with mentioned companies.
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Protect Your Eyes During a Solar Eclipse. https://www.cdc.gov/features/solar-eclipse-safety/index.html. Accessed August 16, 2017.
2. Hersher, Rebecca. Here's What You Need To Know About The Total Solar Eclipse. NPR. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/16/541132645/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-total-solar-eclipse. Accessed August 16, 2017.
Image. NASA. How to View the 2017 Solar Eclipse Safely. https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety. Accessed August 16, 2017.
