For the first time since 1806, a total solar eclipse will cross Akron’s path the afternoon of Monday, April 8. Northeast Ohio is one of the best places to view the celestial event, and a large number of visitors from out of town are expected to descend on the area.
Looking directly at the sun with unprotected eyes at any time can be dangerous, including during a solar eclipse. One of the most common safe ways to view the eclipse is through a safe solar viewer, which typically comes in the form of “eclipse glasses” or handheld rectangular lenses.
Alexandra Williamson, an optometrist at the Cole Eye Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, said the eclipse glasses are “sort of like a lot of pairs of sunglasses stacked on top of each other. It is a filtration device that cuts the amount of sunlight that comes through that actually reaches your eye by quite a bit – to the point where it’s a safer level.”
Eclipse viewers will not experience the same kind of filtration from a standard pair of sunglasses or homemade viewing devices, Williamson said. These methods could damage eyes.
When looking for eclipse glasses, NASA recommends making sure the label states the glasses comply with the ISO 12312-2 standard. With the demand for eclipse glasses, counterfeit products that say “NASA approved” have reached the market, but they do not fit the ISO standard.
It is also important to check for scratches or other damage to the safe solar viewers. An at-home method for testing the quality of the glasses is to try them on and look at a lamp, Williamson said.
“You should be seeing that if you’re using these at home, and you’re looking into a light source, that you can barely see it.”
Although it is not the standardized way of testing effectiveness, this method can reduce the likelihood of using a solar viewer that is not up to the safety standard.
Where in Akron are eclipse glasses available?
Some eclipse viewing sites will have glasses available for visitors on April 8, but supplies will be limited.
Akron sites with eclipse glasses available now include:
- The main branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library’s Business, Government & Science desk (one pair per person present, while supplies last).
- Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre (available for $3).
- Retail stores such as Meijer, Lowe’s and Walmart.
The American Astronomical Society has a list of more suppliers of safe solar viewers.
Are there alternative eclipse viewing options?
Indirect viewing options, such as pinhole projectors made from paper or cereal boxes, are an alternative for viewing the eclipse before and after the point of totality, which will occur from 3:14 to 3:17 p.m.
One of the simplest methods of creating a pinhole projector only requires viewers to poke a hole in a white sheet of paper. Williamson explained that by turning your back to the sun and holding the paper so the sunbeams shine through, a shadow will be cast on the ground.
“And as the eclipse starts to happen, the moon, as it starts to come in front of the sun, you’ll see the shadow of the moon in your little view there,” Williamson said. “And then, once it’s fully covered, that’s when you can turn around and look.”
Williamson said the pinhole projector method is a good option for children because it can be used for a group and removes the question of whether the children are accidentally looking at the sun without eye protection.
“If you are planning to view the eclipse with children, the number one thing you’re going to want to make sure that you do is prevent them from looking at the eclipse directly without protective glasses,” Williamson said.
It is also not recommended to view the eclipse through an unfiltered camera (cell or otherwise) viewfinder or lens, a telescope, binoculars or any other optical device.
What’s the risk of looking at the partial eclipse without eclipse glasses?
Eclipse viewers should not look at the sun without a protective barrier because it “can effectively burn a hole in your eye, in a very important part of your eye, which is the part of the eye that sees 20/20,” Williamson said.
“If you were to otherwise stare at the sun, or watch the eclipse without some sort of protective device like [eclipse glasses], you may end up having solar retinopathy.”
The retina, which is a layer of cells in the back of the eye that senses light, allows a person to see. Eyes are designed to focus light to the fovea, which is the part of the retina where people see 20/20, Williamson said.
If the fovea is pointed at the sun, the photoreceptors can be burned, in the same way that skin may be sunburned. The result can be a permanently blurred spot in the center of vision.
If a person is experiencing symptoms of solar retinopathy, such as headaches, blurred vision or eye pain after the eclipse, they should visit an ophthalmologist.
The only time it is safe to look toward the sun without eclipse glasses is when the sun is completely eclipsed by the moon from 3:14 to 3:17 p.m.
Is it possible to photograph the eclipse?
While it is possible to photograph the eclipse, it is not recommended to do so without a certified solar filter, according to B&H Photo Video.
Photographers should avoid pointing a camera at the sun without a certified solar filter and should not look through the viewfinder of an unfiltered SLR, digital or cell phone camera. Not only can the concentrated unfiltered sunlight damage the equipment, specifically the camera’s sensor, but it can cause damage to the eye.
