Solar eclipse viewers urged to be wary of solar retinopathy

(KBSI) –  Lots of people are getting ready to view the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

As many are booking hotels, and planning which event to watch from, eye safety should be added to your list.

Solar retinopothy is damage to your eye retina from looking directly at the sun. Optometrist Ben Leonard with Clarkson Eye Care in Calvert City, Ky. says rays from the solar eclipse carry a higher chance of developing solar retinotopy he explains how this happens. 

“So we go outside without our sunscreen we get sunburnt,” said Dr. Leonard. “It usually happens on the first day of vacation right but eventually it heels up and we put some aloe on and its fine. Your retinas not the same there’s layers like a lasagna and right at the very central vision is called the phobia that retina thins out and its actually the thinnest that the retina gets inside of your eye so its very delicate and easily damaged and solar energy from the sun enters your eye and hits at that phobia it can actually de-change and change the phobia of your eye for life. There’s no lotion or aloe vera that’s going to fix that. That’s why we have to be hyper protected with solar retinopathy.” 

Dr. Leonard says to be sure to wear the proper protective eye wear and to make sure they are strong enough. 

He says your glasses should be 100,000 times darker than regular sunglasses and it’s important to remember that regular sunglasses will not work no matter how dark they are.  

When looking to purchase proper eye wear for the eclipse you should look for ISO 12312-2 certification. 

For more information on where to purchase eye wear for the solar eclipse.