There’s an annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14 (Saturday) that will be visible. According to NASA, it will start in Oregon and end a few hours later in Texas, also hitting Nevada, Utah and New Mexico, along with parts of California, Idaho, Colorado and Arizona. It’ll also hit parts of Central and South America.
An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon squeezes between the sun and the Earth, but at a distance that leaves the sun only partially covered, resulting in a cool “ring of fire” look. And while you probably already know it’s important to wear eye protection during one of these, it bears repeating. According to Dr. Ronald Benner, president of the American Optometric Association, unsafe viewing of a solar eclipse can cause solar retinopathy, which is a type of retinal damage he compared to sunburn on the “satellite dish of the eye.” Failing to wear proper eye protection will let in a dangerous amount of ultraviolet radiation and damage the macular tissue in the retina.
“Once it’s burned and scarred, it’s a bad thing,” Benner said.
Here’s how a solar eclipse could damage your eyes, how to view it safely and tips for finding the right glasses.
