These Are The Dangers Of Watching A Solar Eclipse Without Proper Eye Protection

As many people anticipate the awesome solar eclipse on Monday, Aug. 21, it's important to consider what we're looking up at, and how we should be looking at it. This isn't the same as looking up at the sky on any given day. Obviously, you're going to need to take some precautions before sky gazing. Within all of the hype, many people are probably wondering what happens if you look at a solar eclipse. It can be incredibly dangerous watching an eclipse without proper eye protection.

Take into consideration the saying, "What is done in the dark will eventually come to light." Mismanaging the way you view this "dark" event can seriously affect you later on. It's important to know that the naked eye is not used to viewing that much ultraviolet light at once. This is why you need proper eye protection that will block most of that light from hitting your retina directly. While the most extreme consequence is going blind, there are other dangers of watching a solar eclipse without that aid.

In about 100 seconds, permanent injury to your retina can occur, and you could experience blurred vision or a blind spot as symptoms of too much exposure. So, in other words, it really isn't worth taking the risk of looking up at this solar event without protection. NASA says not even your super dark sunglasses alone will suffice or keep your eyes safe from harm. If you regularly wear eye glasses it is also recommended that you keep them on underneath your pair of eclipse glasses.

Do not let the potential dangers of the solar eclipse discourage you from witnessing the action. Like all great things, there are pros and cons. And even if you don't like rules, listen to the experts when it comes protecting yourself during this celestial event. As long as you take the correct precautions for the solar eclipse, there's no reason why you can't enjoy all that it has to offer.