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How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely

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A solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely or partially covers the sun, creating darkness during daylight hours. This is a fascinating spectacle, but it is very important to guard your eyes against temporary or permanent damage.

Viewing the solar eclipse is a rare and exciting event. You can safely view a solar eclipse by protecting your eyes with a proper solar eclipse viewer, making a pinhole projector, or watching an online livestream.

In the event that you view the solar eclipse without protection and cause damage to your eyes, it is important that you visit your optometrist as soon as possible to have your eyes assessed

Where to View the October & April Solar Eclipses

Two remarkable solar eclipses are set to occur in Canada over the next 6 months. On October 14, 2023, most of Southern Canada will witness a partial solar eclipse, followed by a total eclipse on April 8, 2024, spanning from Southern Ontario to Newfoundland and Labrador (with the closest totality point to Waterloo being Burlington or Brantford). In April, the rest of Canada will experience a partial eclipse. 

While these events are awe-inspiring, they also pose potential risks to eyesight if proper precautions are not taken.

Solar Eclipse Eye Protection

Using Solar Eclipse Viewers

Ensure your eyes are protected at all times by using approved solar eclipse viewers that meet international standard ISO 12312-2 for safe viewing. Make sure that the glasses are not damaged or scratched before use. Sunglasses, even those with a very dark tint are not sufficient protection.

Using a Pinhole Projector to View the Eclipse

If you can’t find eclipse viewers, make a pinhole projector to watch the eclipse. It’s important to only watch the screen, not the sun. Never look at the sun through the pinhole.

How to Make a Pinhole Projector

Materials:

  • 2 pieces of white cardstock
  • A small piece of aluminum foil, about 15cm x 15cm
  • Tape
  • A paper clip to make the pinhole
  • Scissors for cutting your foil and paper

Steps:

  1. Cut a small rectangular hole in the middle of 1 piece of cardstock
  2. Tape your precut aluminum foil over the hole
  3. Poke a hole through the aluminum foil in the middle (not where it overlaps with the cardstock)
  4. Place the other piece of cardstock on the ground
  5. Hold your pinhole between yourself and the cardstock on the ground, looking down
  6. Align your pinhole with the sun and look at the cardstock on the ground, where you can watch the moon pass by the sun.
  7. DO NOT look at the sun directly.

Watch the Eclipse on a Live Stream

Watch an online live stream of the event from a verified source. Alternatively, you can check out a recording of the eclipse after it has happened.

What Does Sun Do to Eyes?

Staring at the sun without protection may cause damage to your retina (the back of your eye which is where the image is formed) called “solar retinopathy.” This damage can occur without any sensation of pain. The injury can be temporary or permanent.

If you experience any of these symptoms after viewing the eclipse, visit your eye doctor right away:

  • Pain or discomfort in your eyes
  • An inflamed cornea (the front surface of your eye)
  • Increased sensitivity to light

Ordinary sunglasses can provide day-to-day protection, but are not meant for staring directly at the sun. It is important to practice enhanced eye safety if you are planning on viewing a solar eclipse.

Visit Your Eye Doctor if You Experience Vision Problems

Hopefully, you will have fun experiencing these wonderful and exciting events safely with friends and family members. If, however, you experience any problems with your eyes or vision after the eclipse, please visit one of our optometrists at Pierce Family Vision promptly.

Written by Dr. Patti Ellison

Dr. Patti Ellison graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 1988. She received the A.W. Cole prize for clinical proficiency. She practiced in Guelph until 1994 when she joined her husband, Dr. Bruce Pierce, here in Waterloo.

Dr. Ellison enjoys the wonderful diversity in her practice with patients of all ages and from all parts of the world. She especially enjoys examining children’s eyes. Children’s exams always start with a ride in the chair, pictures (if they aren’t quite ready for the letters) and the “magic” 3D glasses to check depth perception. We also have ingenious ways of examining babies and Dr. Ellison has cared for many children from their first exam at 6 months of age until they bring in children of their own.

Dr. Ellison also enjoys helping adults with any visual or eye health issues they have such as dry eyes, blepharitis (red, irritated eyes and eyelids), and specialty glasses for things like driving, reading sheet music, working on computers, or anything else task-specific.

Dr. Ellison and Dr. Pierce have 2 grown sons and live in Waterloo. Outside of the office, Dr. Ellison enjoys taking walking holidays in the UK and Ireland.

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