By SCOTT BORGHOLTHAUS
Contributor 

Safe viewing of rare solar eclipse

 

Last updated 8/17/2017 at 8:30am

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On Aug. 21, we will experience a phenomenon that comes around only once every 100 years or so, a solar eclipse visible in Cheney. While this may be neat to see, don't look at it unless you have the proper safety lenses that block out the sun's deadly rays.

The reason is because the sun's intensity when viewed directly, even for a few seconds, can not only make vision painful; they can also permanently blind you. It's because the eye focuses light like a magnifying glass onto the back of the eye. The sun's rays are so powerful that this focused light burns tissue just like a sunburn on skin.

Unfortunately, the retinal eye tissue can't regenerate like skin cells. Thus, the area burned becomes permanently charred and vision is lost in that area forever. I even have actual photos in my office of sun induce retinal scars from directly viewed sunlight, if people would like to see them.

To see this phenomenon safely two approaches can be used. One is to make a pinhole in whatever material wanted. Then point the pinhole toward the sun with a paper a few inches behind the pinhole to capture the image of the suns light rays through the pinhole.

The second is to wear specially made lenses that block out enough of the sun's rays to look at the sun briefly. These lenses are more than standard UV and/or photochromic protection lenses. They are being offered fairly inexpensively from various vendors for this event.

Take advantage of this offer and be visually safe while enjoying a wonderful light show very rarely seen anywhere.

Scott Borgholthaus, doctor of optometry, is the owner of VisionHaus in Cheney.

 

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