Srinagar, Aug 20 : With solar eclipse just a day away, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today warned that looking directly at the sun during eclipse with bare eyes could cause permanent damage to your eyes.
President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement said that watching solar eclipse without protective gear could lead to permanent reduction in vision and even blindness.
On Monday, August 21, a total solar eclipse will be witnessed for the first time in 99 years. During the rare phenomenon, the sun will be completely blocked by the moon and for few minutes day will be turned into night.
The total solar eclipse will not be visible in India, but it will cut across the United States of America. Many people are travelling to the region to view the spectacle. Under no circumstances should people stare into the sun without eye-protection as that can leave them blind.
Staring at direct sunlight can burn and potentially scar your retina which is home to the light-sensing cells that make vision possible. It only takes few seconds to do permanent damage and once retinal cells are dead, the damage can’t be undone.
The damage is often painless, so people don’t realize it is happening. There are hundreds of reported cases of eye damage caused by solar eclipse.
The only safe way to view eclipse directly is by using eclipse glasses. Viewing it through sunglasses or photographic film is unsafe. Even binoculars, telescopes and cameras should be fitted with solar filters.
If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can still view it indirectly by making a pinhole into a sheet of paper or cardboard and project the sun’s image onto another piece of paper.