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With all eyes on the upcoming solar eclipse April 8, Ashtabula County Medical Center Ophthalmologist Alexander Taich, MD, wants people to see it safely to avoid damaging their eyes. Looking directly at the sun, even for a few seconds can damage the retina – a layer of cells lining the interior of the back of the eyeball. It senses light that is focused by the lens at the front of the eye. If you look directly at the sun, it only takes a few seconds for permanent damage to the retina to occur, causing vision loss.

“There is only one way to safely view the sun and that is with special solar filters, which block out most of the sun’s harmful effects,” Dr. Taich said.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends glasses that meet worldwide safety standards labeled ISO 12312-2. However, this designation can be faked, as the American Astronomical Society recently warned, noting that it discovered a pair of “solar eclipse” glasses which provided no more eye protection than a normal pair of sunglasses.

If you purchase eclipse glasses and are unsure if they are safe, look through them in the daytime or evening. If you can see building lights, signs, or traffic lights, the glasses are not safe to view the sun. True eclipse glasses block all but the brightest lights, making them appear very dim.

Once you have the proper eyewear, Dr. Taich offered the following tips for safe viewing:

• Before looking at the sun, check the glasses for scratches, tears, or other damage. Do not use them if you find anything wrong with the lenses.
• Before looking at the sun, put on your glasses and ensure a proper fit. Do not remove the glasses while looking at the sun. Turn your eyes away before removing.
• During the peak of the solar eclipse – when the moon has completely covered the sun (around 3:18 p.m. in Ashtabula County) – you can look at the darkened sun without eclipse glasses, but only for a short period of time. As soon as a sliver of the sun begins to appear, put on the glasses again.
• Do not use binoculars, cameras, telescopes, or other devices with eclipse glasses. These magnify the intense rays even beyond the safety limits of the eclipse glasses or solar filters. These devices have special filters that must be used.

Even if you are cautious in viewing the eclipse, Dr. Taich said there are symptoms to watch for after viewing the eclipse. “You can experience solar retinopathy, which can occur up to 12 hours after you’ve looked at the sun.”

These symptoms include:

• Blurred vision
• Blind spots in one or both eyes
• Color distortion
• Distorted vision (wavy or curved vision)
• Headaches
• Sensitivity to light

If you experience any of these symptoms after looking at the sun or any bright light, contact an ophthalmologist for diagnosis. There are no treatment options for this type of eye damage, but limited recovery may occur after a few months.

For more information about eye safety, visit www.acmchealth.org. To schedule an appointment with ACMC Ophthalmologist Alexander Taich, MD, call 440-994-7530.