Question
A complete solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8. How can I watch it safely?
Oh You're smart to plan ahead, because viewing a solar eclipse — which happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth — can damage your eyesight in case your eyes aren't protected. The light emitted by a solar eclipse shouldn't be necessarily stronger than sunlight on a traditional day, but we must always never look directly on the sun.
Exposure to the sun's rays without eye protection can result in solar retinopathy. This injury to the retina includes symptoms reminiscent of blurred or distorted vision, blind spots, and headaches that may appear anywhere from a number of minutes to a number of days later. To prepare for viewing the eclipse, you should buy special eclipse glasses. They can be found online, but look especially for versions with the internationally accepted standard code – ISO 12312-2 – that indicates that the lenses require filtration to guard your eyes.
Even wearing eclipse glasses doesn't guarantee that the activity is risk-free. If you watch the eclipse and experience any visual problems afterward, get your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist.
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