Eye-health experts are issuing a stark warning to Brits planning to watch today’s partial solar eclipse, cautioning against the use of regular sunglasses and urging the use of specialist glasses instead.
The warning comes ahead of the partial solar eclipse set to occur in the UK at 7.52 pm on Monday (April 8), with visibility from Northern Ireland, Scotland, most of Wales and cities including Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Plymouth.
Stefano Pietrini, an eye health expert from Watches and Crystals, emphasised the potential for permanent eye damage if the eclipse is viewed directly without proper protection. He advised against relying on everyday sunglasses, which he said are not strong enough.
READ MORE: Where to see the April 8 solar eclipse in the UK
“It’s a common misconception that wearing regular sunglasses will protect your eyes during a partial solar eclipse. However, this is not the case,” Stefano explained to Wales Online.
“Regular sunglasses do not provide the appropriate protection from a solar eclipse, regardless of their UV protection rating or how dark the lenses are.”
“If you’re planning to view the partial eclipse directly, it is imperative that you purchase specialist eclipse glasses, or a hand held solar viewer, that complies with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
“These glasses are extremely affordable and can easily be purchased online. It’s crucial to ensure that any specialist glasses for viewing the eclipse are thoroughly checked before use.
“Check your specialist glasses for scratches, tears or general damage, as even the slightest scratch or tear will ruin the effectiveness of the glasses and result in eye damage.
“If you notice damage you must discard them immediately and purchase another pair”.
Moreover, Stefano is issuing a warning about the dangers of observing the eclipse throgh a phone camera or binoculars without proper protection.
“Viewing a partial solar eclipse through your phone camera or binoculars can result in serious eye damage, even when wearing specialist eclipse glasses. Cameras can concentrate the solar rays, so in order to view an eclipse through your phone safely, you must purchase a specialised camera filter,” he said.
Looking directly into a partial solar eclipse can expose your eyes to the sun’s rays and cause retinal burning, and the worst case scenario is being left blinded.
Stefano warns that ‘the damage caused to your retina may not be noticeable for hours, so you will be completely unaware of the damage until the physical symptoms appear, and by then it is too late’.
