Protect the peeps: Eye coverage needed to view eclipse safely

VERMILION — With the excitement surrounding the upcoming total solar eclipse passing through the county, where to view it is near the top of everyone's priority list, but safely viewing it should be the number one priority. "It's not safe to even look at the eclipse for a few seconds or moments, because it will definitely burn a hole in your macula," said Dr. Andrea L. Fisher, chief optometrist and owner of Come and See Our Difference in Vermilion and a clinical optometrist in the department of ophthalmology at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. "Light can induce damage or burns in the macula, the center part of the retina, which is where we get most of our vision. Damage to the retina from looking at an eclipse is permanent. It's irreversible. You will not recover from it." Fisher recently took part in a webinar put on by ophthalmologists at The Ohio State University focusing on educating the public on the falsehoods and truths regarding viewing the eclipse. Experts agree the best way to view the solar eclipse is by wearing eclipse glasses, specifically those marked with ISO: 12312-2 or 12312-2:2015, Fisher said. Glasses from www.eclipseglasses.com or www.daystarfilters.com meet the International Safety Standard. Many local libraries have been giving out eclipse glasses that meet these standards, and several venues hosting events will be distributing them the day of the eclipse. For her family, including her 4-year-old daughter, Fisher purchased more durable eclipse glasses in adult and child sizes for viewing. "I blocked off time to view it myself," she said. "I'm looking forward to it. I took the day off at Metro and will be seeing patients in my private practice until noon." Then she is off to enjoy the solar spectacle. One thing to keep in mind during the excitement of the eclipse, she warned, is that young children may not keep on solar eclipse glasses. Fisher recommends that parents who are not able to supervise their little ones may want to keep them inside and view the NASA recordings online instead. "Keep them indoors to spare their vision," she said. "You can still see the whole process online. Kids are inclined to take off the paper glasses because the lenses are black and they can't walk around and see with them on. The damage that happens to people's eyes often times happens when they are kids, not adults." Photochemical toxicity from UV rays can cause painless damage to the center of the retina, called the macula, in less than a second of viewing, according to the Ohio Optometric Association. This damage can be permanent and is called solar retinopathy. Solar retinopathy can cause visual acuity loss and/or central blind spots in the vision in both eyes. Symptoms of solar retinopathy can occur within seconds or up to a few hours following exposure and include damaged macula, resulting in blurry vision in both eyes, a central or paracentral blind spot in vision, changes in color perception, waviness of straight lines or headache, according to the Ohio Optometric Association. Following the 2017 partial eclipse, Fisher saw a few patients concerned they had damaged their eyes by improperly viewing the eclipse. "A retinal scan and OCT can immediately identify any damage, and I did not see that," she said. "I don't want to treat any patients after the total solar eclipse, so I hope everyone takes precautions." At a March faculty meeting at MetroHealth, eye doctors are fully preparing to see patients, especially with the publicity the eclipse is receiving and the anticipated visitors to Northeast Ohio. "If anyone thinks you have exposed yourself, the first thing to do is call your eye doctor and have them verify if there is damage," Fisher said. "Someone with damage would have a missing area or blurred spots in their vision." One question Fisher and other experts have been fielding leading up to the big day is whether glasses from the 2017 partial eclipse can be reused, and the answer is yes. "As long as the lenses are not scratched or damaged, they can be used," Fisher said. "Nothing has changed as far as the glasses." What cannot be used are regular sunglasses or polarized sunglasses, she said. Viewers also should not view the eclipse through a telescope, camera or binoculars without the use of eclipse glasses. Pinhole projectors are fine, and maybe surprisingly, so are welder masks, as long as they are shade number 14 or darker, Fisher said. And don't forget to put on sunscreen, she said. Dermatologists are teaming up with ophthalmologists to get the word out to wear SPF 50 and above to protect the area around your eyes and your face for the eclipse. Contact Christina Jolliffe at ctnews@chroniclet.com.