The solar eclipse will be visible in our part of the state this afternoon. NASA says the eclipse will be at least partially visible from about 2 to 4:30pm, with 3:15pm the time when almost 95% of the sun will be obscured by the moon. One doctor in The Valley is out with some eye saving advice.
Geisinger’s Dr. Herbert Ingraham, an ophthalmologist and director of the Geisinger Eye Institute said, “Looking directly at the sun can cause long-term retinal damage and even blindness, so safety is important to enjoy this amazing event.” Make sure they have the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.
And the dos and don’ts….don’t trust any ‘Do It Yourself’ method of looking at the sun, don’t use unfiltered binoculars, telescopes, cameras, or welding masks, as the stakes are too high, you can seriously damage your vision.
Depending on where and when you’re watching an eclipse, the sun may not be totally covered. “Even though it may darken for a few minutes, you shouldn’t remove your eclipse glasses because you could still damage your eyes,” said Dr. Ingraham.
While some people may try to take pictures, cameras are limited in their ability to capture an eclipse’s brilliance. Instead of trying to get the perfect shot, take the time to be present in the moment. He said look around, and take it all in.
