Five Guidelines for Safe Solar Eclipse Viewing

Mandi Conway, MD, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, shared some best practices for safely viewing a solar eclipse.

Five Guidelines

1. No Homemade Filters: Never use improvised or homemade filters when observing a solar eclipse. Only use approved solar viewing glasses or handheld solar viewers with ISO 12312-2 compliant filters to ensure adequate eye protection.
2. Inspect Your Filters: Before use, carefully examine your solar filter or eclipse glasses. Any scratches or damages should be a red flag, indicating that the protection may be compromised.
3. Follow Instructions: Read and adhere to the instructions accompanying your solar filter or glasses. It’s essential to ensure correct usage, especially when helping children with handheld solar viewers.
4. Cover Before Looking: Stand still and cover your eyes with the solar filter or viewer before directing your gaze at the sun. Afterward, turn away and remove the filter — never remove it while looking at the sun.
5. Avoid Optical Devices: Never use cameras, telescopes, binoculars or similar devices without a proper solar filter. This caution extends to wearing eclipse glasses or holding a solar viewer simultaneously. The intense solar rays can damage both the filter and your eyes.