Experts warn of eye damage, encourage residents to use proper glasses for eclipse
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – In one week a rare solar event will be visible from Brazos Valley skies. The 2024 Solar Eclipse will cross over the area on April 8 but experts say residents and visitors need to be prepared.
This involves having a pair of solar eclipse glasses, which appear black when you look through. These are significantly stronger than regular sunglasses.
“ISO 12312-2 is the requirement for them to filter out the light that’s damaging to your eyes,” Dr. Mark B. Lindsey with Lindsey Eye Care said. “Looking at the sun directly with your bare eyes, your glasses, your sunglasses is going to cause severe permanent damage to the retina and harm your central vision for the rest of your life.”
Looking at the sun as the eclipse happens can cause vision loss. Dr. Michael Koch with Brilliant Eye Care says this won’t be a painful experience but it can be permanent.
“You know, like when you’re looking at a bright flashlight or took a camera flash and you have that little afterimage, we call it,” he said. “Not necessarily the first few minutes but days, potentially months, potentially years after it, you would have that blank space. What’s really interesting is our brain is really cool. Eventually, you won’t have vision there but you’ll kind of blend the images around it. So you won’t maybe even know that you’ve lost anything but when we sit you down and try and figure out what the tiniest letters are, we’ll be missing those.”
BCS Public Libraries, The Lake Walk and Friends of Chamber Music BCS are hosting event watch parties where a limited number of eclipse glasses will be given out for free. Glasses can be purchased at many local eye care specialists including Lindsey Eye Care, Scasta Family Eye Care and Eyemart Express.
