Solar Eclipses are rare and exciting events. They are fun to share with family and friends. However, it is possible to damage your vision when viewing these events, if you do not follow safety procedures and buy eclipse glasses or used approved viewers. Here are some tips to help you and your family enjoy a safe experience.
Viewing the Sun
You would never think of staring at the sun for prolonged periods. The intense brightness would cause a lot of pain. However, when the sun gets darkened by the shadow of the moon, the brightness is gone so you can look at the sun. Yet, the harmful rays still manage to get through. This is why everyone should buy eclipse glasses or use the right protective viewers.
How the Sun Affects Your Eyes
When you stare at the sun for very long, you can get burns on the retina. The retina is the back lining of the eyeball, and it contains light-sensitive cells. These cells send information to the brain which it transforms into visual images. When these cells get damaged, it can affect vision, and the damage is sometimes permanent. Retinal damage can distort your vision, cause loss of central vision, and affect the way you see colors.
Safe Viewing
Although it is safe to view a total eclipse during the brief time of totality, you take chances with your vision if you do this. To ensure your safety and everyone else’s, you should buy eclipse glasses. This is the easiest way to enjoy a solar eclipse.
You can purchase eclipse viewing glasses for under a dollar apiece. In fact, if you plan ahead, you can order them online from trusted sources. The top manufacturers offer many different styles in which to choose and you can customize them for organizations and special events.
