For the first time in nearly 100 years, an eclipse will occur that will be visible to most of the continental United States. This eclipse, a “total solar eclipse,” will occur on Monday, August 21st, 2017. From the Denver Metro area, the closest available viewing spot to view the total eclipse will be just north of our state up in Wyoming. This eclipse was discussed on Planetary Radio’s podcast, and was predicted on that show to be the most viewed solar eclipse ever in the United States, and possibly the world. 1000’s of people are expected to migrate to ideal viewing locales in order to experience this unique natural phenomenon. While the sight of the sun’s corona and star-viewing midday will certainly awe and inspire countless people, as optometrists, we are concerned with the safety of viewing a solar eclipse.
The sun is a massive sphere of hot plasma that is approximately 864,500 miles in diameter. Through the process of nuclear fusion, a mix of solar radiation is generated. Because of the extreme intensity of solar radiation, viewing the sun unprotected is very strongly advised against. Even at totality, when the moon covers the sun, dangerous levels of ultraviolet light will still be reaching you at the Earth’s surface. Your eye is designed to focus light at the retina, and the eye’s ability to concentrate dangerous forms of light, such as ultraviolet, can result in permanent damage to the eye. Diseases of the retina, cornea, and crystalline lens can result in permanent blindness if the sun is improperly viewed. Retinal disease such as macular degeneration are thought to originate from ultraviolet and short-wavelength light exposure to the retina. Cataracts are widely understood to be caused by oxidation from the same wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Vista Eye Care’s doctors urge all eclipse viewers to do so safely through proper filters which allow you to view the spectacle of the eclipse without endangering your eyes. We have eclipse-viewing filters available to patients that request one (these are available until we run out!). Even outside of eclipse-viewing, we recommend that all patients of all ages wear ultraviolet protection when outdoors. We live at altitude here in Thornton, and are exposed to more ultraviolet light than most people. Please consider your eye health every day and especially when viewing the awesomeness of this upcoming celestial phenomenon. Wishing you all a fun and safe 2017 Eclipse Event!
To schedule your annual eye and vision examination, please call us at (303) 450-2020, or use the button below to schedule online.
Image credit: NASA. https://images.nasa.gov/#/details-S80-37406.html. This image depicts an eclipse, but an eclipse of the sun by the Earth! This image was taken by the Apollo 12 astronauts on their way home from the moon in 1969.