AOA: Eye safety a priority for upcoming annular solar eclipse
In preparation for the annular solar eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14, the American Optometric Association is emphasizing the importance of eye safety to protect eye health and vision during the celestial event.
According to the AOA, the sun is never fully covered by the moon during an annular solar eclipse and looking directly at it can lead to eclipse blindness, also known as solar retinopathy, which can cause permanent damage to the retina.
To protect the eyes while viewing the eclipse, the AOA recommends using approved solar eclipse glasses or viewers to cover the eyes while looking directly at the sun. The AOA warns that sunglasses, smoked glass, unfiltered telescopes or magnifiers, and polarizing filters are not safe for viewing an eclipse.
Materials for educating patients on eye safety during eclipses is available for members on the AOA website. The Oct. 14 eclipse will be visible along a path that includes Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas.
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