Eye Doctors Warn Public Over Solar Eclipse Viewing as Cork Set for Some of Ireland's Highest Coverage

Eye doctors are reminding the public to take care when viewing today's solar eclipse, warning that looking directly at the sun can cause permanent damage even during the event.

In guidance issued today, the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO), the recognised training and professional body for medical and surgical eye doctors in Ireland, described the eclipse as the most prominent to be visible from Ireland in 27 years.

People across the country will be able to see the partial solar eclipse just after 6pm, as the moon moves in front of the sun, with maximum coverage occurring shortly after 7pm. The eclipse will see between 94 per cent and 97 per cent of the sun covered today, the first event of its kind visible in Ireland since August 1999, when 95 per cent was covered.

Areas in the south west of Ireland will see the greatest coverage, with Cork set to see almost 98 per cent of the sun obscured. Coverage decreases further north east, with Dublin set for 94 per cent and Belfast for 93 per cent. Anyone hoping to see a total eclipse is advised to travel to northern Spain.

Mr Gerry Fahy, Consultant Ophthalmologist and President of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists:

"It is important for people to be aware of the permanent damage that can be caused by looking directly at the sun with the naked eye, and most especially during an eclipse. Staring directly at the sun can permanently scar the retina, and cause irreversible loss of central vision.

After a solar eclipse, ophthalmologists see patients presenting with solar burns to the retina and/or macula which is termed solar retinopathy or solar maculopathy. Solar burns to the retina are not painful. The vision loss is not always immediate but if damage occurs, it is unfortunately frequently irreversible. Eye doctors would like to remind people to take the simple, necessary safety measures to protect the eye from solar damage."

The ICO is advising particular caution where children are concerned. It says children should not be allowed to look directly at the sun at any time, as the potential damage is usually more severe: a child's natural lens is clearer, letting more ultraviolet (UV) rays reach the back of the eye.

The ICO's Do's and Don'ts for viewing the eclipse:

Don't:

1. Look directly at the sun with the naked eye or with sunglasses on; sunglasses do not offer sufficient protection.
2. Watch directly through a telescope, binoculars, a camera or a camera-phone; even lining up a projection puts you at risk.
3. Attempt a selfie on a camera-phone; glancing at the sun, even briefly, can damage the retina.
4. View through smoked glass, stacked sunglasses, polarised shades or photographic filters.

Do:

1. Use certified eclipse glasses, checking first for pinholes by holding them up to a light, and discarding any pair with scratches.
2. Use the pinhole projection method: put a hole in a piece of cardboard and, with your back to the sun, hold it up so an image of the sun projects onto another piece of card or paper.
3. Attend a viewing event run by astronomy clubs or other organisations, where experienced astronomers will have specially adapted telescopes.
4. Watch a livestream; the European Space Agency will host a live broadcast of the event.

The ICO points to a booklet on safe viewing at eclipse26.ie, compiled by Dunsink Observatory and ESERO Ireland, and to Astronomy Ireland for further updates.