How to Protect Your Eyes From the Sun

For those of us living in the rainy UK, a warm sunny day often means taking a day off work to enjoy sunshine which never seems to stick around for long.  However, with so many of us out enjoying the good weather, not many think of the dangers that come with this exposure to the sun and viewing it directly without the proper protection.

Many people frequently wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from damage, but did you know we also carry a range of glasses for viewing the sun directly?  Our sun gazing glasses ensure that you are kept safe on those rare days of sunshine, whether it is safety glasses, solar eclipse glasses or simply sunglasses which carry the correct protection for your eyes against harmful UV radiation, you can rest assured, we’ve got you covered.

Protection and Safety

These two things should be first and foremost when thinking about suitable glasses for looking at the sun.  Our solar eclipse glasses are perfect for viewing the sun during an eclipse but can also be used for air shows, hot air balloon shows or anything other activity that might have you looking skyward!  Our solar eclipse safety glasses provide protection to men, women and children when viewing the sun directly.

“Taking in a beautiful sunset is relaxing, but don’t look too long at our planet’s closest star because its rays can cause blindness and other life-changing side effects, ” warned the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in an article by Jones Eye Clinic ophthalmologist Dr. Joseph Chacko.

Wearing safety glasses that protect against the sun will prevent damage to the retina and other parts of the eye ensuring your eyesight remains undamaged.

“Sunlight damages the eye as its light is focused by the cornea and lens onto the central retina, or macula, where it causes a retinal burn, which then forms a scar,” explained Dr. Chacko.

Solar Eclipses – Keeping Your Eyes Protected

At Safety Protection Glasses there is nothing more we love than a solar event.  However as so many people are out and viewing the sun during this unique event we would always recommend protecting your eyes with a pair of our solar eclipse glasses.  The lenses are very dark and block out over 99% of UV light and 97% of IR radiation.  Complete or partial solar eclipse should always be viewed through the protection of a pair of solar eclipse glasses.

“The only safe way to look at a partial solar eclipse is through eclipse glasses,” reported Time Magazine. “Partial eclipses occur about twice a year somewhere in the world.”

By wearing a pair of solar eclipse glasses you will be able to view the rare moment of a solar corona.  This is when the outline of sunlight is made visible around the edges of the moon in a complete circle which lasts for approximately 8 seconds.  Seeing this type of event can be a once in a lifetime experience but as it is over so quickly we would recommend a pair of solar eclipse glasses to ensure you don’t miss out.

On the August 21, 2017, some of the SPG team were able to view this unique event while we were in Georgia during the total solar eclipse and can confirm that it is a spectacle to be seen.

You can see some of the images we took on this day below, however, whilst beautiful and a unique event to view, solar eclipse carry their own dangers for eye damage.

Eye Damage and the Sun

If a person views the sun with the nake eye, it can cause irreversible damage to the eye which is why it is important to wear safety glasses at all times.  If viewed without safety glasses you may not even be aware of any damage until a few days later.  At this stage there is little that can be done to regain your vision.  You may experience no pain, as retinas do not have pain receptors but the damage will be done and cannot be rectified once it has taken place.

Despite the beautiful spectacle of the sun, it is not worth viewing simply for you to damage your eyes.  Professionals at NASA have warned against viewing the sun without protective glasses.

“Typically, eye damage from staring at the sun results in blurred vision, dark or yellow spots, pain in bright light or loss of vision in the center of the eye (the fovea). Permanent damage to the retina has been shown to occur in ~100 seconds, but the exact time before damage occurs will vary with the intensity of the sun on a particular day and with how much the viewer’s pupil is dilated from decongestants and other drugs they may be taking.”

Safety Glasses which meet the guidelines provided by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) should be worn when looking at the sun.  Safety Protection Glasses carry a range of glasses that meet these quality standards which can be purchased through the website.

The beauty of Sunsets, sunrises, eclipses, and finding shapes within clouds are meant to be enjoyable experiences. They are also situations that can turn tragic if a person does not wear the appropriate safety glasses.