On July 2, 2019, South America will witness a solar eclipse. A total eclipse will be visible for portions of Chile and Argentina. Barring any potential cloud coverage, anyone within the path of totality will be able to view the total eclipse of the sun. To ensure the health and safety of your eyes, make sure you wear glasses for a solar eclipse.
What is a Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely covers the Sun while a partial eclipse is when the Moon partially covers the Sun.
Eye Protection
To view a solar eclipse, it is important that eclipse watchers use proper eye protection to safeguard the eyes. Looking directly at the Sun without any type of protection can damage the eyes.
Glasses for a solar eclipse are designed specifically for looking directly at the Sun. These solar glasses will have met the international safety standard ISO 12312-2 for solar eclipse viewing and will protect your eyes for the Sun’s harmful effects.
Eye care professionals state that after view the sun for just 10 seconds without specially designed glasses for solar eclipses can result in irreversible eye damage.
Certified solar glasses work by preventing UVA and UVB rays from reaching the retina. Typical sunglasses are not adequate in protecting viewers from UVA and UVB rays. Glasses for solar eclipse are made using black polymer and block all Ultraviolet rays and visible light.
Damage from looking directly at the Sun can appear within hours to a day or two. Symptoms from eye damage can include blurred vision, floating dark spots, and, in some cases, blindness.
When selecting glasses for solar eclipse viewing, ensure they are not scratched, bent, or altered in any way. When you put on the glasses, you should only be able to see the sun. If you can see trees or the ground, then do not wear them.
