How do eclipse glasses protect your eyesight?

AUSTIN (KXAN) — We are less than a day away from the first of two solar eclipses in the next few months.

On October 14, an annular eclipse will briefly darken the skies over parts of the western United States, Central America, and South America. Observing the eclipse safely will, however, require some preparation on your part.

“(I see) a few patients a year who accidentally looked at the sun or were trying to see an eclipse,” said Dr. Andrew Neighbors, a Seattle-based optometrist.

According to Neighbors, the damage caused by viewing the sun during an eclipse is called eclipse blindness or solar retinopathy. This damage may heal over time, but may be permanent. Neighbors said there was little that could be done medically to repair the damage.

What happens during eclipse blindness?

Blindness from the eclipse appears as a black spot in your vision, Neighbors said.

“If you’ve ever seen a car headlight or something like that, it’s really bright, and then you can kind of see the car headlight. It would be like this. It just wouldn’t go away,” Neighbors said.

The sun causes this by burning a spot on your retina.

“Have you ever used a magnifying glass with the sun and can literally light a fire? Neighbors asked, saying that when you look at the sun, the lens of your eye acts like a magnifying glass. “You are focusing a light. You are literally burning your retina.

With no pain receptors, you won’t even feel your retina crackle.

“If you subsequently notice a spot or loss of central vision – something that lasts more than a few minutes – you should make sure to come in and see your optometrist…so they can check it out,” Neighbors said.

Preventing blindness from eclipses

The American Optometric Association recommends that everyone use solar eclipse-certified glasses when viewing an eclipse. These glasses cost around $1 and are usually made of paper and have a dark film covering the eyes.

“It’s a very, very dark film,” Neighbors said. “ISO 12312-2 is the international standard [of the film].”

Neighbors said you’ll know the glasses are legit because they will have the letters ISO on them and they will also be almost impossible to see through. He said you will only be able to see the sun through them. Regular sunglasses won’t work.

“Make sure you put them on before you look up,” Neighbors recommended.

Adequate eye protection is necessary throughout the eclipse, from the initial partial phase at the ring of fire to the final partial phase.

Annular eclipse

Saturday’s eclipse is an annular eclipse. Occurring three times a year, annular eclipses occur when the Moon is farther from Earth and does not completely block the sun.

What’s called a “ring of fire eclipse” will briefly darken the skies over parts of the western United States, Central America, and South America. A bright, blazing rim will appear around the moon for five minutes, stunning skywatchers along a narrow path stretching from Oregon to Brazil.

The celestial spectacle will produce a partial eclipse over the rest of the Western Hemisphere.

It’s a prelude to the total solar eclipse that will sweep across Mexico, the eastern half of the United States and Canada in six months.

You will also need to save your glasses for this eclipse.

Unlike Saturday, where the Moon is too far from Earth to completely cover the Sun from our perspective, the Moon will be at the perfect distance on April 8, 2024.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.