Why you can’t look directly at an eclipse
Posted Aug 21, 2017 6:56 am.
Last Updated Aug 21, 2017 6:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
We’ve all heard that you shouldn’t look directly at the sun during the eclipse, but why is that?
Local optometrist Dr. Mark Ross has the answer.
“Normally when the sun is not covered you end up squinting, you end up turning away (because) it’s very uncomfortable. During an eclipse it’s easier to look at it, but the damage is still happening,” he said.
He said looking at the eclipse can burn your retina and leave you blind, though you won’t see the effects for up to a day.
Safe ways to take in the event include through NASA certified glasses or a pin-hole camera.
