A simple look at a solar eclipse, like the one that will be seen in much of North America on Monday, can cause irreparable loss of vision, eye health experts warn.
Tens of millions of people from Mexico to Canada, passing through the United States, They will witness a rare celestial phenomenon that will not be repeated in that part of the world until 2044: the Moon will block – in some places completely – the light of the Sun.
Human beings do not normally look at the Sun because of the discomfort it causes, but, during eclipses, some “override” this instinct, explained Aaron Zimmerman, professor of optometry at Ohio State University.
The main danger associated with this phenomenon, according to the expert, comes from “photochemical toxicity”, when short and powerful waves of blue, violet and ultraviolet light – the latter invisible – They trigger chemical reactions that damage the rods and cones of the retina, the membrane located at the back of the eye that receives light impressions and transmits them to the optic nerve.
The result is visits to emergency services from people who complain of blurred vision, changes in color perception and black spots, sometimes without certainty that they will return to normal.
An important medical journal reports the case of a young woman who went to an eye clinic in New York following having watched the 2017 eclipse “several times for regarding six seconds without protective glasses” and then with them on.
A few hours later, began to see blurry and distorted objects, The colors began to change and the patient reported the appearance of a black spot in the center of her left eye.
Damage observed at the cellular level They persisted for six weeks.
“black spot”
According to the magazine, young adults They may be more at risk because they have larger pupils, a clearer ocular structure or a “poorer perception of the dangers” involved in contemplating an eclipse of proportions.
“In some cases, the damage is partial and can be treated so that it is no longer noticeable,” said Neil Bressler, professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University and editor-in-chief of the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.
Although recovery usually lasts a few months, some may not be so lucky.
“In other cases, It can leave a permanent black spot and we have no treatment to reverse it. “It’s like brain tissue: once you’ve lost it, it doesn’t come back,” Bressler added.
The best way to observe an eclipse is to use special glasses, which block 99.99% of light.
To check the quality of such equipment, “locate the brightest light bulb in your house and look at it closely. I should barely be able to see the light,” Professor Zimmerman advised.
If it is too late to get special lenses, there are indirect methods, like making a hole in a sheet of cardboard and letting the light hit another surface, or even use a simple strainer from your kitchen in the same way.
Another option is to follow the phenomenon through the website of the US space agency, NASA.
Those lucky enough to find themselves in the path of the total eclipse You will be able to see it when it is fully formed without glasses and admire the outer atmosphere of the Sun, its crown, shining behind the silhouette of the Moon.
For Professor Bressler, the danger also lies in knowing how to protect yourself before and following this particular moment, which can last from just a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the geographical position in which the person is located.
“Is absolutely “It is necessary to know when the eclipse begins and put on your glasses beforehand,” he emphasized. Likewise, if you can see the total eclipse phase without them, you have to know when to put the protection back on at the right time, “even if you are captivated by the spectacle,” the professional said.
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