Q: I keep hearing about the danger of looking at the eclipse. I want to protect my eyes from damage, but how do I know I've got the right eclipse sunglasses? -George F., Portland, Ore.
A: Great question, George. Solar retinopathy-the medical term for sun-caused damage to the retina-has been endangering people since, well, for all of human history. Yet every eclipse sees folks who end up with transient or permanent burns to their retina. In 1988, scores of Italians in a cult of sun worshipers suffered solar retinopathy after a sun-staring ritual. And a study in the Journal of Optometry found that several young people who viewed a 2011 eclipse without eye protection-they told researchers they had only glanced at the sun for a few seconds or minutes-suffered damage.
Substandard solar eyeglasses are for sale all over the internet. One investigation found that only 119 of 140 claimed to have the proper certification of safety standards. So use only ISO-rated eclipse sunglasses (or welder's glasses rated 14 or higher).
NASA says that the American Astronomical Society has verified manufacturers of eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers that meet ISO standards: American Paper Optics, Baader Planetarium (AstroSolar Silver/Gold film only), Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical and TSE 17.
(c) 2017 Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
King Features Syndicate, Inc.