Fact Sheet
Solar Eclipse and Health
Direct viewing of a full or partial solar eclipse can cause permanent
eye damage. ARPANSA recommends viewing an eclipse using
indirect methods.
Eye safety and solar eclipses
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between
the sun and the earth, and the moon fully or partially
obscures the sun. It is extremely dangerous to look
directly at the sun even during a solar eclipse. You
should never attempt to observe a total, partial or
annular eclipse with the naked eye.
The safest technique for viewing a solar eclipse is
indirect viewing. For example you can easily project
an image of the sun onto a screen or you can view
live streams on TV or online. Children’s eyes in
particular are extremely delicate and transmit more
light through to the retina and are more susceptible to
damage.
The use of eyewear marketed as ‘eclipse glasses’ has
become more popular. Safe use of these glasses relies
on the filtering ability of the lenses and the design
of the frames. Even where the lenses are certified
to meet the applicable standards, improper use of
these glasses may still result in serious eye damage.
Parents are recommended to be cautious when letting
children use such glasses for observing an eclipse as
children are even more at risk of serious eye damage
because of the higher sensitivity of their eyes.
ARPANSA recommends that solar eclipse glasses
should not be used to directly view a solar eclipse.
Things to remember
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Viewing the eclipse can cause permanent visual loss.
Damage occurs rapidly without any pain.
Loss of vision does not occur until after the eclipse.
There is no treatment and children are especially
at risk.
• ARPANSA advises against any direct viewing of the
eclipse.
Sunlight
The main hazards to the eye from very intense
sunlight are from heat (infrared radiation), UVR
(ultraviolet radiation) and from excessive visible light
especially blue light. Even a momentary glance at the
sun on a sunny day can focus a very intense amount of
heat onto the back of the eye (retina). UVR can cause
‘sunburn’ to the outer surface of the eye (cornea). The
least understood risk is from blue light which may also
cause damage to the eye.
Is it safe to look at a solar eclipse?
Normally the sun is so intense that it is difficult and
very dangerous to look at it directly. However, during
a total solar eclipse so much of the sun is covered that
a person may be tempted to stare at it directly.
It is possible to suffer serious and permanent eye
damage by looking at any type of solar eclipse and
there is no treatment. Children are especially at risk
due to more light reaching the retina than adults.
They may lack the ability to follow instructions
correctly and have a greater temptation to look at a
solar eclipse, not understanding the dangers.
ARPANSA Fact Sheet – Solar Eclipse and Health
619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie VIC 3085
Email: [email protected] | Web: www.arpansa.gov.au
Telephone: +61 3 9433 2211
March 2015
Fax: + 61 3 9432 1835
© Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency 2015
Looking at the intense light from the sun even for
just a few seconds can cause permanent damage to
the retina. The retina has no sensitivity to pain and
since the effects of retinal damage may not appear for
hours there is no warning that an injury to your eye
has occurred. The amount of time looking at the sun
that will cause loss of sight varies from eye to eye but
in all cases is only a matter of seconds.
Indirect viewing of a solar eclipse
The safest way of viewing a solar eclipse is to use
indirect methods. An example is the projection
method using two cardboard cards: cut a small
pinhole in one of the cards and then use this card to
project the image of the sun onto the second card.
For further information on eye safety and indirect
viewing methods, refer to the following released
on solar eclipses from the Australian Society of
Ophthalmologists.
Solar eclipse eyewear
Solar eclipse glasses use filters specifically designed to
reduce ultraviolet, visible and infrared light.
Despite the lenses potentially meeting the standard,
a major concern with most types of solar eclipse
eyewear is the design of the frame which holds the
lenses. In order to prevent stray light from reaching
the eyes, the frame should be close-fitting, together
with adequate light blocking material around the
lenses.
An example is if these lenses were part of ski or
welding goggles or full face shields. Most glasses
are a generic adult design and easily fall off or out
of position with movement, and may not fit certain
face shapes and sizes, thereby exposing the eyes
directly to the eclipse. Due to the potential issues
around lens performance, design of the glasses, and
inappropriate use, the use of solar eclipse glasses is
not recommended.
The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists states:
“There are risks associated with all forms of direct
viewing whether using solar filters, unprotected
viewing or viewing through optical instruments.”
Optical instruments such as a telescope or binoculars
focus the light.
ARPANSA measured the UVR and visible light
transmitted through a pair of readily available solar
eclipse glasses to check if they met the transmission
requirements of EN 1836 Personal eye-equipment –
Sunglasses and sunglare filters for general use and
filters for direct observation of the sun and AS/NZS
1338.1 Filters for eye protectors Part 1: Filters for
Protection against radiation generated in welding and
allied operations.
The results show that the particular solar
eclipse eyewear tested meets the transmittance
requirements of the above standards to provide
protection for the direct observation of a solar
eclipse.
References
Australian Society of Ophthalmologists
http://www.aso.asn.au/solar-eclipse.html
EN 1836 Personal eye-equipment – Sunglasses and sunglare filters for general use and filters for direct
observation of the sun
AS/NZS 1338.1 Filters for eye protectors Part 1: Filters for Protection against radiation generated in welding
and allied operations
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