Solar eclipse: be careful with your eyes, warn ophthalmologists

Corinne Prince
Local Journalism Initiative

As the solar eclipse of Monday, April 8 quickly approaches, the Association of Ophthalmological Doctors of Quebec (AMOQ) is launching a call to Canadians to be vigilant regarding the damage that a solar eclipse can cause, emphasizing the importance of adequate protection to prevent permanent damage to the retina.

“As ophthalmologists, we have the visual health of Canadians at heart, and we encourage them to fully experience this exceptional event,” says Cynthia Qian, spokesperson for the AMOQ and ophthalmologist specializing in retina at CHU Sainte-Justine and at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital.

Risks
It is important to point out that looking directly at the sun, even during a solar eclipse and without proper protection, can cause significant eye damage, such as solar retinopathy.

During this observation, the lens of the eye acts as a magnifying lens, focusing all the light energy at the back of the eye onto the retina. This concentration of energy can thus cause permanent burns to the retina, leading to permanent irreversible vision loss.

Because the retina has no sensitivity to pain and the effects of retinal damage may take a long time to appear, there may not be immediate signs of permanent damage.

However, if solar retinopathy has occurred, there are a few signs to watch for, such as loss or blurred central vision, distorted vision, and changes in colour vision.

Advice
In order to observe this astronomical spectacle in complete safety, the AMOQ suggests some precautions to take, in particular:

Use specially designed sunscreens that comply with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 12312-2. This is the only reliable method of directly observing the sun, whether there is an eclipse or not;
Never look at the sun during the solar eclipse with regular sunglasses, even if they are very dark;

Refrain from directly observing the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through a camera, telescope, or binoculars if these instruments are not equipped with the specially designed solar filter, even if the person observing is wearing glasses with sun filters. The light condensed by these optical instruments is powerful enough to damage the filter surface.

Avoid looking directly at the sun without eye protection when taking images with a smartphone. Please note that photographing the solar eclipse directly with a smartphone will not produce a good quality image and could damage the sensors, unless the camera is equipped with the appropriate filter.

Remember that people without appropriate glasses can observe the phenomenon indirectly without risk. This can be achieved using a simple projector made from cardboard with holes in it to project the image of the sun onto another surface, such as paper, a wall or the floor.

“Ensuring safety when observing the solar eclipse is crucial to preserving everyone’s eye health,” says Dr. Qian.

Corinne Prince
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Courrier Laval