TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Solar eclipse glasses are running out across the UK ahead of Wednesday's partial solar eclipse, prompting astronomers and eye specialists to warn the public against using ordinary sunglasses or unapproved alternatives to view the Sun.
The Moon will obscure more than 90 percent of the Sun over the UK on August 12, between 6:17 p.m. and 8:06 p.m., making it the most significant solar eclipse visible from the country since 1999.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich has reported unusually high demand for certified eclipse glasses, with its online and physical stores selling out.
“We have sold out of solar eclipse glasses, both online and in our shops, due to an unprecedented volume of orders,” a Royal Observatory Greenwich spokesperson said, as reported by The Guardian.
Some online retailers still list eclipse glasses for sale, but delivery dates may come after the eclipse. High-street retailers have also reported depleted stocks.
Neill Sanders, founder of Go Stargazing and the UK coordinator of Astronomers Without Borders, said the problem was largely caused by people leaving their purchases until the last minute.
“I’m getting loads of calls, text messages, emails with people asking ‘Do you have some glasses?’ Everyone’s suddenly realising we need glasses for Wednesday,” Sanders said, according to The Guardian.
Sanders said he had imported 300,000 pairs from the United States and distributed 100,000 at discounted prices to astronomy clubs and community groups in recent weeks.
Experts Warn Against Ordinary Sunglasses
Eye specialists have stressed that ordinary sunglasses, regardless of how dark they are, cannot safely protect the eyes from the Sun during an eclipse.
According to The Independent, only eclipse glasses meeting the ISO 12312-2 safety standard should be used for direct viewing. Counterfeit or uncertified eclipse glasses can also expose the eyes to dangerous solar radiation.
Wearing multiple pairs of sunglasses does not provide additional protection, experts warned.
Kyla Black, director of optical practice at Boots Opticians, urged parents to take particular care when allowing children to watch the eclipse and warned against using homemade filters.
She also advised people using eclipse glasses to check that they are undamaged before wearing them.
“Even a glimpse of damage could have an impact on your eyesight,” Black said, according to The Independent.
Eye specialists also warned against using smoked glass, color film, floppy disks, X-ray film or other improvised filters, which may fail to block harmful infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
People planning to view the eclipse through cameras, binoculars or telescopes should also ensure that approved solar filters are properly attached to the equipment.
Looking Directly at Sun Can Cause Permanent Damage
Mohamed Elalfy, a consultant ophthalmologist and president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said the safest option was to observe the eclipse indirectly or watch a live broadcast.
Looking directly at the Sun can damage the retina, including cells responsible for sharp central vision. Because the retina has no pain receptors, damage may occur without immediate discomfort.
Symptoms can appear several hours later and include blurred vision, dark or blind spots in the center of vision, distorted vision, reduced color perception and increased sensitivity to light.
Some people recover over weeks or months, while others can suffer permanent visual impairment, Elalfy said.
The danger is not theoretical. Following the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists recorded around 70 cases of people experiencing vision problems after viewing the event. About 40 percent of those affected had looked at the Sun for less than a minute.
How to Watch the Eclipse Without Glasses
People unable to obtain certified eclipse glasses can still observe the eclipse safely by using indirect projection.
Jake Foster, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said household objects with small holes, such as a colander or a piece of paper with a small hole, can project an image of the partially eclipsed Sun onto a flat surface.
The key is to look at the projected shadow rather than the Sun itself.
Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, also recommended using a solar telescope or attending an event organized by a local astronomy society.
Bell said the eclipse would be an unusually significant event for UK viewers because more than 90 percent of the Sun would be covered.
“It’s not a total eclipse, but over 90% is really exciting,” Bell said, according to The Independent. “We’re not going to get one this good for a really long time.”
Perseid Meteor Shower Also Peaks
The solar eclipse will coincide with another major celestial event, as the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on the night of August 12-13.
The Perseids occur as Earth passes through a stream of dust left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. Tiny particles enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds of about 60 kilometers per second, burning up and producing brief flashes that appear as shooting stars.
For stargazers, the combination of the partial solar eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower makes August 12-13 an unusually busy period for observing the night sky.
However, experts stress that eclipse viewing should only be done with certified protective equipment or through safe indirect methods.
Read: A Complete Guide to See Solar Eclipse in London This Wednesday
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
