Solar Eclipse 2017

On the morning of August 21st, 2017 Pacific Northwest will be a part of one of the largest and greatest solar eclipses ever. Seattle metro is near the path of totality and will experience 92% solar eclipse. Alderwood Optical and Canyon Park Vision Clinic wants to share some safety precautions so our patients can safely experience this once in a lifetime natural phenomenon.

The light of the sun can be very intense, especially to the naked eye. Seattle metro area will experience only a 92% coverage of the sun, so you need to make sure your eyes are fully and properly protected. The UV Radiation that your eyes are exposed to when you look directly at the sun causes painful short-term damage called Solar Retinopathy.

Staring at the sun for even a short time without proper eye protection can cause retinal burn leading to permanent blindness. Retinal damage can be painless at times and take several hours to a few days after viewing the solar eclipse to notice a change in vision. If you notice any loss of central vision, distorted vision or altered color vision, call our office immediately to get it checked out.

Any direct viewing of Sun is risky for eyes and some methods reduce that risk. One such method for safer viewing is using Eclipse certified solar glasses while another is using a pinhole on a cardboard. Some examples of unsafe methods is using sunglasses, bottom of beer bottles, fogged lenses, and neutral density photographic filters. Whatever filter you choose to use, please make sure it is designed for safer solar viewing.

Alderwood Optical (425-771-8472) and Canyon Park Vision Clinic (425-485-0430) will be providing certified solar eclipse glasses designed for solar viewing and enjoyment. Call us or stop by one of our offices to get yours today!

NOTE: All proceeds from the sale of eclipse glasses will be donated to North Shore and Edmonds school districts.