Aaron Zimmerman says the best way to view the eclipse is with eclipse sunglasses. (representative)
Washington:
Eye health experts warn that just one unwary glance at the solar eclipse could lead to lifelong vision loss.
On Monday, tens of millions of viewers across Mexico, the United States and Canada will witness the moon completely blotting out the sun’s light, a rare celestial spectacle that most of North America won’t see again until 2044.
The medical literature is filled with examples of damage to the retina, the light-sensitive tissue layer at the back of the eye, and health experts are offering advice on how to avoid becoming the next cautionary tale.
Aaron Zimmerman, a clinical professor of optometry at The Ohio State University, told AFP that the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates had discussed the dangers of gazing at the sun during a solar eclipse, but until recently, science had not really understood the cause of eye injuries.
He explains that when it comes to solar eclipses, the main damage comes from “photochemical toxicity,” in which short, high-energy wavelengths of light — blue, violet and invisible ultraviolet — trigger chemical reactions that damage rod cells and visual acuity cells. cone cells. Retina.
People are going to emergency rooms with blurred vision, changes in color vision and blind spots, and the outlook for recovery is unclear.
Zimmerman explained that humans are wired to avoid the sun because of the discomfort it causes, but during a solar eclipse, “you can mentally overcome” that instinct.
A well-known journal report about the 2017 U.S. solar eclipse reported that a woman in her 20s “looked at the edge of the sun multiple times for about 6 seconds without wearing protective glasses” and then put on eclipse glasses. Visit the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.
After a few hours, objects began to blur and distort, colors became distorted, and a black dot appeared in the center of her left eye.
Advanced imaging techniques were able to reveal damage at the cellular level, which persisted at follow-up six weeks later.
“Permanent blank spot”
The paper’s authors said younger people may be more susceptible because they have larger pupils, clearer eye structures or “less awareness of the dangers of wearing ill-fitting glasses to view the eclipse.”
Neil Bressler, professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University and editor-in-chief of JAMA Ophthalmology, told AFP: “In some cases it is only partially damaged, but it may go away on its own, leaving You stop noticing it.” If it recovers, it usually happens within the first six months.
“But in other cases, it can leave a permanent blank spot…and we have no treatment to reverse that. It’s like brain tissue, once you lose it, it doesn’t grow back ,” Bresler added.
The best way to view the solar eclipse is with eclipse sunglasses, which block 99.999% of the light. Always choose genuine products. To test whether your glasses meet the standards, “find the brightest light bulb in your home—and look at it up close, you should barely see any light,” Zimmerman says.
If it’s too late to buy professional glasses, there are indirect methods, such as punching a pinhole in cardboard to let the light shine onto another surface, or even using a humble kitchen colander to achieve the same effect. NASA webcasts are another option.
Those lucky enough to be in the “path of totality,” where the moon will completely obscure the sun, can look up without glasses and admire the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, glowing from behind the moon’s silhouette.
But the danger, Bresler said, is not being protected before and after these precious moments, which can last from seconds to minutes depending on where you are.
“You have to know when it starts and take protective measures before then,” he warned. “You may be fascinated by seeing it happen, but you have to have some alarm telling you that it’s coming to an end.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
