Protect Eyes from Damage During Eclipse
Written by Andrew-Rossi on August 1, 2017
Wyoming residents and visitors of all ages hoping to enjoy the August 21 total solar eclipse should take steps to protect their eyes.
During a total solar eclipse, the moon moves in front of the sun, covering it completely for a few minutes and darkening the sky. Communities in Park and Big Horn Counties will experience between 97 and 99 percent of the totality of the eclipse, which means that the sun will be visible around the edge of the moon at all times.
Kimball Croft, Emergency Response Coordinator for the Park County Public Health Office, says that although residents and visitors may be excited about the rare experience, if viewers fail to protect their eyes, it could lead to lasting damage.
Croft adds that people who experience eye damage won’t notice it until several hours later, adding that this kind of blindness can last for six months, or even be irreversible.
Croft says that the only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers. Those are available at various locations in the community, including the Cody Chamber of Commerce.
Other options for safe viewing include pinhole projectors or other projection techniques, certain welding hoods or specialized solar filters for telescopes.
