What happens if look at solar eclipse

It can be found at local hardware and home-improvement suppliers. Two men are warning people about the dangers of staring at the sun during the eclipse after they did so decades ago in Portland, Ore. More than 50 years ago, Louis Tomososki and Roger Duvall stood and waited, squinting toward the sky. Of the cases reported over the years, Chou said half the people afflicted completely recovered their vision over the course of the following year.

Additionally, make sure that the brand of glasses you buy has been verified to meet the international safety standard, something Chou emphasized as critical to injury prevention.

The American Astronomical Society has released a list of manufacturers selling these glasses that meet this standard. NASA also suggests you inspect your filter before putting it on, and discard it if it has any scratches or damages.

Write to Alana Abramson at Alana. Abramson time. By Alana Abramson. As it happens, young adults—perhaps especially young males —are those most likely to suffer these eye injuries from the eclipse. Those who want to watch the eclipse, or photograph it , need to make sure they take the proper precautions.

The event will only last a few minutes, but the damage it can cause could last a lifetime. By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy.

Skip to navigation Skip to content. Discover Membership. The problem with a solar eclipse is that it's an extremely rare event. In fact, everybody in the United States has to wait until Aug. Because these eclipses hardly ever happen, everyone wants to see them when they do occur. People may be curious or lack good impulse control, and think that a few seconds of looking at the eclipse won't do any harm. They may believe they're right at first, because no initial pain is associated with a retinal burn.

Generally, it takes several hours for the symptoms to manifest and by then, the damage has already been done. If you want to look directly at a solar eclipse, you're going to need some protective eyewear. You can view a total solar eclipse with your bare eyes, but only when the moon completely covers the face of the sun.