Finding approved glasses to see the eclipse is more complex than it seems: here is a guide

The total solar eclipse on August 12 will be the first in peninsular Spain since 1912. However, many Spaniards have already seen the occasional partial eclipse. Although we are ashamed, many of us also have memories of having looked at the sun through an x-ray, in the absence of approved glasses. There were many myths about it and it used to be said that this measure was enough to protect the eyes. A very dangerous statement that left more than one person with sore eyes.

Nowadays, luckily, there is much more information and we know that, to look directly at the sun, only glasses approved for eclipses are valid. The problem is that, as with everything, there will be people who try to profit by selling at a lower price some glasses that, in reality, do not meet adequate safety standards. Therefore, it is very important that we, as users, know what we should look at.

Make sure they are approved. Approved glasses must contain the inscription: EN ISO 12312-2:2015. In addition, if you buy in the European Union, the CE marking must also be visible. On the other hand, there is certain information that must always be included: the name of the manufacturer, instructions on its safe use and conservation instructions. All of this should be included on the packaging or instructions.

Make sure they are not broken. Your glasses may be approved and suitable for eclipses, but they may be damaged. If this is the case, they can be equally harmful to the eyes. That’s why, you should check that the filter is not scratched, loose or bent, and also that some areas are not lighter than others. In general, if you see any signs of deterioration in the area covering the eyes, you should look for others.

Be careful where you buy. As long as all of these criteria are met, it doesn’t matter where you buy your eclipse glasses. However, it is true that if you buy them from planetariums, astronomical associations or scientific entities, they are more likely to be reliable.

No, sunglasses don’t work. It may seem intuitive to us to wear sunglasses. After all, they are made to protect the eyes from solar radiation. However, direct and indirect solar radiation are not the same, especially when the direct radiation occurs under the conditions of an eclipse. Sunglasses meet their own safety criteria for protect us from scattered lightbut not to look directly at the king star. In fact, they can increase the risk, since they don’t block as much UV radiation as eclipse glasses, but enough so that we don’t have to squint. We will have them wide open and those radiations from which they do not protect us will be able to penetrate and affect us more.

It doesn’t matter if 99% of the sun is covered. Even if there is only 1% of the sun visible, it is important to use approved glasses. The problem with eclipses is that, since there is a certain darkness, we do not blink or squint as much as we would when looking directly at the sun, so we do not have that perception of danger, but we do run the risk of damaging our retinas. Therefore, always check that your glasses are well approved. This way you can enjoy the eclipse safely.

Image | Astroclubkosova

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