Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, August 16, 2017
(UNDATED) - Monday, all eyes will be on the sky as Hoosiers witness a partial solar eclipse. It’s a rare event many people want to take in, but if you don’t protect yourself, you could put your eyes at risk for some long-term damage.
It's simple. Don't look up with your eyes uncovered. And no, sunglasses won't help you either, in fact they could be worse.
The eclipse will begin Monday around 12:57 p.m. in the Bloomington area.
But looking at the eclipse can cause permanent damage on your retina. It could potentially scar and burn your retina just like a sunburn on your skin.
Sometimes you won't notice the damage until a few hours later. Blurred vision, a spot in your vision, or straight lines that appear wavy. Worst case scenario would be permanent vision loss.
Doctors say sometimes oral steroids can help, but there's not a lot of treatment for this type of permanent damage.
To avoid damage, use certified solar eclipse glasses. Make sure your glasses meet the worldwide standard known as ISO 12312-2. When you wear the glasses you should not be able to see anything - it should be completely black.
Doctors say don't be brave or careless and not listen to these warnings, you only get one set of eyes that are depending on you to take in the solar eclipse wisely.
For a full list of reputable companies selling solar eclipse glasses visit https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters
Also, there's a do it yourself method you can also use to view the eclipse safely, it's what people used back in the day called a pinhole viewer you make with products you have at home. Here's a video to show you how to create your own solar eclipse viewing device.
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