Solar Eclipse Safety with Merivale Vision Care

The buzz in town is all about the upcoming solar eclipse, a rare celestial event that occurs when the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the sun, casting a captivating shadow over our planet. In Ontario, this awe-inspiring event is set to begin at 2:04 p.m. on Monday, April 8th, and will grace our skies for a remarkable two-and-a-half hours. 

At about 3:20 pm, parts of Ontario will experience a total eclipse, where the moon completely blocks the sun. Still, this exact time will vary by a few minutes, depending on where you live in Ontario. Protecting your eyes during this extraordinary event is essential. 

How To View A Solar Eclipse Safely

If you decide to view the solar eclipse, you must use proper protection and follow our safety tips below. We cannot underestimate the sun. It may seem that the eclipse blocks enough of the sun’s light to be safe to look at, but that is not the case.

Staring at the solar eclipse could lead to eye damage such as blurry vision, a blind spot in your central vision in one or both eyes, distortion in your vision where straight lines look curved, changes in the way you see colour (also known as dyschromatopsia), increased sensitivity to light, and eye pain or grittiness. 

Staring at the solar eclipse can cause solar retinopathy, when solar radiation damages the eyes, particularly the retinas. Retinas are the parts of the eye that send light signals to your brain so you can see. Without healthy retinas, you will not see clearly. 

Damage to your eyes may not develop until 4 to 12 hours after staring at the eclipse, so self-monitor your vision for any changes. Solar retinopathy can lead to permanent blind spots or distortions in your vision, so if you experience any of these symptoms, be sure to contact your optometrist immediately.

The only safe way to look directly at the sun is through specially designed solar filters, used in eclipse glasses or solar eclipse viewers held over your eyes, available at safe vendors such as Merivale Vision Care. 

Avoid purchasing cheap solar eclipse glasses from unauthorized vendors online. Those products can put your eyes at significant risk for damage as they will not meet the safety requirements of correctly designed solar filters available from your eye care professionals. 

If your eclipse glasses are damaged, replace them with new ones that meet the safety requirements. Please remember that even with a very dark tint, regular sunglasses are NOT safe for viewing the solar eclipse. 

You should not be able to see anything through an authentic solar filter other than the sun. If you can see ordinary light through your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer, those products are unsafe, and you are at a much higher risk of damaging your eyes. 

Conclusion

Never look at the sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, or binoculars, even with eclipse glasses. The lenses on these devices intensify light rays and will damage the protective properties of eclipse glasses and your eyes.

At Merivale Vision Care, we offer safe eclipse glasses for purchase to protect your eyes, so be sure to pop in to get some for you and your loved ones to ensure safe viewing and healthy eyes during this rare and amazing solar event.