New research has been released today which indicates that the eyesight of millions of people in Great Britain may be at risk this summer because of a lack of knowledge about the dangers of the sun – especially during an eclipse.
The study, from The College of Optometrists, shows that nearly one in ten people (nine per cent) think that it is perfectly safe to look at an eclipse as long as they are wearing sunglasses, and a fifth (21 per cent) admit to having looked directly at the sun during an eclipse. This could mean that nearly six million* people in Great Britain will put their eye health at risk during the partial eclipse on the 1st of August.
Even more worryingly, a further 17 per cent of people in Great Britain believe that it is safe to look at the sun even when in full glare as long as they are wearing high UV, CE approved sunglasses: a common myth refuted by Optometric experts across the world. Over a third (36 per cent) of people admit to having looked straight at the sun more than once without protection, and a fifth say they did it as children.
In fact, exposing the naked eye to intense radiation – even during a partial eclipse, or when wearing dark sunglasses – can, depending on the extent of exposure, acutely or chronically damage the light sensitive cells in the eye, leading to temporary or even permanent loss of sight.
The eclipse, set to occur on 1st of August across the UK between 8:30am and 10am, will only be a total eclipse in Canada, Northern Russia, Western Mongolia and China, while it will show as a partial eclipse in this country. As, theoretically, the sun is only safe to look at with the naked eye during the precise moments where the sun is completely in shade, this could put millions of interested viewers in the UK at risk of serious eye damage, including retinal burns, and temporary or permanent loss of vision.
Dangerously, because there are no pain receptors in the retina, the sun’s damage to the eye may go unnoticed until it is already too late, and the effects may take many hours to notice.
The younger generation (18 to 24 year olds) are the worst for looking at the sun ‘regularly’ (ten per cent), while the older age groups are the worst for watching an eclipse: over a quarter (27 per cent) of over 55s admitted to risking their eyesight for the sake of it.
Dr Rob Hogan, President of The College of Optometrists, says: ‘As with many issues to do with health, ignorance is often the most dangerous thing of all. A lot of people simply don’t realise that looking directly at the sun, even during a partial eclipse or wearing sunglasses, can damage your eyesight permanently. The eye is designed to focus light on the very central and sensitive macular area. Many think that if it doesn’t hurt or happen immediately that no harm has been done. This simply isn’t true. In fact, an eclipse is an even more risky time for the eyes, because it’s the one time where there is a reason for everyone to look straight at the sun; something we normally wouldn’t do.
Take precautions, and adopt safety measures: the health and safety of your eyes is infinitely more important than the few minutes it takes to watch an eclipse. Don’t forget to tell your children to protect their vision; many simply aren’t aware of the dangers of looking at the sun.’
Popular but dangerous methods of viewing the sun include:
- Sunglasses
- Smoked glass
- Colour film
- Camera snap shots
- Polarizing filters
- Telescope
- Binoculars
Top tips for you to view the sun safely from The College of Optometrists during this eclipse include:
- Use a pinhole projection method. This involves putting a hole into a piece of cardboard, and holding it – with your back to the sun – so that an image of the sun is projected onto another piece of paper or card. This will allow you to see the progress of the eclipse without damaging your eyes.
- Use specially designed solar filters that will include a thin layer of metal like aluminium.