On August 21st of this year, something amazing is going to happen. It’s a once in a lifetime event – a total solar eclipse – and the Carolinas get a front row seat! During a total solar eclipse, the moon passes directly between the earth and the sun, briefly blocking the face of the sun from view, casting viewers in a brief shadow in the middle of the day.
Thousands of people are planning to travel across the country, many to the Carolinas, which will offer the best view of this amazing natural phenomenon. While Greenville, SC will enjoy a full, total eclipse, we can still see a 98% eclipse from Charlotte, NC! We only have to travel outside to witness it.
Dr. Mozayeni is thrilled about getting to witness this solar eclipse, and has set aside time between LASIK consultations and procedures for the staff at Providence Eye to enjoy this once in a lifetime experience together. When we’re talking about watching a solar eclipse, it is important to remember that looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can cause permanent damage to your eyes and loss of vision. Don’t worry – there are ways you can still safely participate in this exciting event!
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has released some tips for safely watching the solar eclipse wherever you are watching from. They recommend watching the eclipse indirectly through NASA's live stream or a pin-hole viewer. Keep in mind that ordinary sunglasses will not suffice to watch the solar eclipse. They can’t fully protect your eyes from the damaging rays of the sun, and permanent damage or loss of vision can still take place.
It is also dangerous to look through a camera or phone camera at the solar eclipse. The rays of the sun can and will still damage your eyes. Even if you have special eclipse glasses on, which we’ll discuss soon, you still should not look through a camera or phone camera at the sun. The dangerous rays, filtered through the lenses of the camera, can damage the eclipse glasses and then damage your eyes. This infographic breaks eclipse safety down for you.
If you really want to watch the solar eclipse yourself, Dr. Mozayeni recommends getting eclipse glasses that are certified. This is not the time to try a DIY project that may or may not end in retina burns. Some public libraries are hosting eclipse viewing events and giving glasses away for free, but if you can’t get your hands on those, you can buy some online or in stores. As always, do some research and exercise caution to be sure you are buying certified eclipse glasses that will protect your vision.
Keep your eyes safe and enjoy the Great American Total Solar Eclipse!
