Too many people are 'unaware of the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse' say Harrogate Specsavers

Specsavers in Harrogate has issued a warning to the public about risks to your sight during tonight’s partial solar eclipse

Tonight, Wednesday, between 7pm and 8pm, the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun, blocking around 90% to 96% of its surface in different parts of England.

It’s the biggest natural event of its kind since the total eclipse in 1999 but new research by Specsavers store reveals that 6% of people in North Yorkshire do not know that viewing this rare phenomenon directly without suitable eyewear can damage their eyesight.

To help shine a light, so to speak, on the importance of viewing the eclipse safely, the Specsavers research reveals that 10% wrongly thought it was safe to view the eclipse through a camera or smartphone screen, while 12% wrongly believed polarised sunglasses were a safe alternative.

Caroline Sullivan, a director at Specsavers Harrogate, said: “The new research shows that many people are unaware of the risks of looking at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection.

"This can damage the retina and, in some cases, lead to permanent vision loss.

“We advise that people never look directly at the sun without certified solar eclipse glasses or an approved solar filter/viewer.

"Always ensure these are not scratched or damaged first.

“Ordinary sunglasses, no matter how dark, do not provide protection, and people should not look at the sun through binoculars, telescopes or cameras unless they are fitted with the correct solar filter

“Anyone who doesn’t have certified eclipse glasses can watch safely by using simple projection methods, such as a pinhole projector made from paper, a colander, or even the gaps between tree leaves, which project an image of the eclipse onto another surface without needing to look directly at the sun.

“Parents should ensure children are properly supervised while viewing the eclipse, and if anyone experiences blurred vision or distortion after viewing the eclipse, they should seek advice from an optometrist.”

Experts recommend that people intending to view tonight’s eclipse should wear special solar eclipse glasses that are ISO 12312-2 certified for the safest eye protection.