India is about to witness a spectacular celestial event on June 21, 2020 - an Annular Solar Eclipse, one of the three types of solar eclipses. Also called a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse, the astronomical event is expected to thrill sky lovers, enthusiasts and millions of spectators around the world. Expected to start at 9:15 am, the eclipse will reach its peak at 12:10 pm and end at 3:04 pm in India. Even though eclipse of the sun is considered to be a bad omen in many cultures, scientists around the world believe the event is worth experiencing. However, one should never look at the sun directly. According to ophthalmologists, it is important to wear proper eye protection like eclipse glasses if one intends to witness this phenomenon! “It is important to wear safe viewing equipment because the infrared and ultraviolet rays of the Sun can cause severe damage to the retina,” says Dr Vineet Sehgal, Senior Consultant, Sharp Sight Group of Eye Hospitals.
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He further adds that looking at the sun with bare eyes, even if the moon covers it can cause damage to the eyes. “This exposure to the light can damage your eye permanently causing “eclipse blindness” or renal burns, also known as solar renopathy.”
The damage can be temporary or permanent, but one should not worry as much as it is certainly not possible to go completely blind from looking at the eclipse. However, experts claim that the injury can happen in the central part of your visual field. However, what is worrisome here is that the damage may not happen right then and there, but can take a longer time to show its effects. “As there’s no immediate symptoms or pain associated with the damage, it can take a few hours to a few days aer viewing the solar eclipse to realise the damage that has occurred,” suggests Dr Vineet.
“The retina doesn’t have any pain receptors, so it’s hard to know if you’ve been visually impaired due to eclipse blindness,” he adds.
Some of the common symptoms experienced after viewing a solar eclipse may include loss of central vision (solar renopathy), distorted vision, altered colour vision. “As a result, individuals may find difficulty in reading, they may not be able to see faces in the mirror, and they’ve got this centre spot in their vision that is intensely blurred,” says Dr Vineet.
So, if you notice symptoms after viewing a solar eclipse, seek treatment from an eye care professional immediately.
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Tips to safely watch a solar eclipse:
First things first, an eclipse should never be seen through naked eyes.
- Use a certified aluminised Mylar filter in solar goggles or Nos. 14 Welder’s glass to observe the eclipse directly.
- To see the eclipse, you can make a hole on cardboard and project the image on a plain white paper.
- Of the eclipse.
- Use a solar filter on a telescope.
- Never look at a solar eclipse through the optical viewfinder of a camera. It can damage your eyes in the same way as looking
- directly.
- Do not take a picture of the eclipse.
- Consult an ophthalmologist if you think you’ve looked at the sun directly.
Also, is the current situation of working from home affecting your eyes? Here are some care tips to follow:
With inputs from Dr Vineet Sehgal, Senior Consultant, Sharp Sight Group of Eye Hospitals
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