Britons planning to view the upcoming solar eclipse have been warned that even brief exposure to the sun can cause lasting vision damage.
The partial solar eclipse, which occurs when the moon passes directly between the sun and Earth, blocking most of the sun’s light, will be visible across the UK on 12 August.
Royal Museums Greenwich, which runs the Royal Observatory, said that it will be the most complete solar eclipse since August 1999.
Following the total solar eclipse in 1999, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists identified 70 patients with eclipse-related visual loss.
Most cases resulted from direct viewing of the eclipse without appropriate eye protection, and about 40 per cent had looked at it for less than a minute.
While some recovered useful vision, others were left with persistent visual deficits.
College President Mohamed Elalfy, a consultant ophthalmologist, says the “safest way” to view the eclipse is to “observe it indirectly, such as by watching a live broadcast”.
“Looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse can cause damage to the retina, potentially damaging the cells responsible for sharp central vision. Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it happens,” he said.
“Symptoms may only become apparent several hours later and can include blurred vision, a central blind or dark spot, distorted vision, reduced colour perception and increased sensitivity to light. While some people recover over weeks or months, others can be left with permanent visual impairment.”
The advice is simple: never look directly at the sun without appropriate protection.
The college says ordinary sunglasses, binoculars, telescopes and cameras do not provide adequate protection, unless the equipment has an appropriate, professionally fitted solar filter.
Safe indirect methods of viewing a solar eclipse include pinhole projection, verified eclipse glasses that meet safety certification ‘ISO 12312-2' or ‘ISO 12312-2:2015’, or television and online broadcasts.
Even when only a small part of the sun remains visible during an eclipse, sufficient radiation can reach the retina to cause injury.
If you notice a change in your vision following the eclipse, seek advice from an eye-care professional.
What time is the eclipse?
The Royal Observatory will be livestreaming the solar eclipse on 12 August.
In person, it will be visible first to viewers in Scotland, with 'first contact' (when the moon first covers the disc of the sun) occurring at 6.08pm.
'First contact' in Manchester and Liverpool is 6.13pm, while in London, Bristol and Cardiff it's 6.17pm and in Cornwall it’s 6.18pm.
The peak of the eclipse will occur between 7.05pm and 7.16pm, depending on how far down the country viewers are.
The eclipse will end for all UK viewers by 8.10pm.
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