Both adults and children are eager to see the solar eclipse that will occur this WednesdayAugust 12, in much of the Iberian Peninsula. However, in order to guarantee an unforgettable and safe experienceit will be necessary to follow a series of recommendations. Otherwise, you may be exposed to permanent eye damage.
As experts and authorities have been warning for a few weeks, looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, is extremely dangerous. This is due to the radiation emitted by the starwhich can cause serious and irreparable damage to the retinal tissue, with symptoms such as blurred vision, blind spots, or even blindness.
One of the most notable cases in recent days has been that of former representative Mercedes López Romero, who suffers from 90% blindness after having seen this phenomenon without protection at the age of eight. For this reason, and with the aim of advising parents, relatives and guardians to go see the eclipse accompanied by children, the pediatrician and ophthalmologist Laura Álvarez has left a series of recommendations to take into account.
“These five tips can save your vision,” says the ophthalmologist
First of all, the most essential and important thing is to have approved glasses with 12312-2 certification to be able to observe the eclipse completely safely. This is the only filter that should be used, and you can place them over prescription glasses or even contact lenses. “Sunglasses, X-rays or tinted glasses do not protect the retina“he explains.
However, it may happen that these are too big for the child’s face or that, even with them, there is fear that the child will be directly exposed to radiation. For these cases, what the doctor recommends is make a pinhole boxthat is, a simple camera without lenses with which children will be able to see the eclipse indirectly. “Because at that age it is very difficult for them to keep their glasses on properly the entire time looking at the eclipse,” he warns.
This box is characterized by being completely closed, except for a small holecalled a pinhole, which must be placed on one of its sides, and through an observation window. Thanks to this hole, the light emitted by the eclipse will enter inside, projecting on the exposed side an inverted image of what is located in front of the hole. Therefore, children or adults who are going to use it They should have their backs to the phenomenon.
“There is no safe time to look at the sun,” they warn
Likewise, they remember that “there is no safe time to look at the sun”, because even if it is 99% hidden, that 1% continue to emit radiation. Therefore, in those areas where a partial eclipse will occur, it will not be possible to remove the glasses at any time; while in those in which it is going to be enjoyed in its entirety, It can only be done when the satellite hides the star 100%.
However, for all of these tips to really work, it will be It is necessary to supervise the little ones at all timessince it is possible that they do not understand the importance of the safety instructions and try, out of pure curiosity, to take off their glasses or look directly at the eclipse.
Finally, they cannot be used telescopes, binoculars, cameras or mobile phones to see this phenomenon if they do not have approved filters, “since they concentrate the light and even they can be more dangerous“In addition, pointing the camera directly at the Sun can cause damage, even if it is only done for a few seconds. So it will be better to enjoy the official images that will be published after the eclipse.
The experts remember that “The eclipse lasts only a few minutes, but the vision lasts a lifetime“. This is why it is so important that both adults, and especially the little ones, take care of their health and well-being while enjoying this astronomical phenomenon. Well, this is the only formula to guarantee a happy and spectacular memory of this long-awaited day.