LIMA, OH (WLIO) - We are 5 days away from the total solar eclipse passing over our area, and local eye doctors want to make sure you have the right protection for the event.
It could be the only total eclipse you will ever see in your lifetime, but seeing it is just as important afterward too. That is why Dr. Jeff Unterbrink of The Eye Site of Lima says you need to use a welding helmet or glasses like this to look directly at it. The proper glasses need to be ISO certified and have the number 12312-2, and they could also have a colon 2015 after the number. If you don't use the right protection, it could affect your eyesight for the rest of your life.
"When you stare at the sun, the macula, or the center part of the retina, that really does our central vision in terms of clarity, can be permanently damaged," says Unterbrink. "I wanted to let people know that it is permanent."
You will not notice any eye damage right away, and once the damage is done, it cannot be fixed.
"I was talking to an ER doc today, and she just said we are just bracing for a lot of people coming in saying that they hurt their eyes; they have damaged their eyes," adds Unterbrink. "And there is really nothing that they can do. She stated that too, that we really don't want to be flooded with people. You will get a big bill, and we will turn you away saying that there is nothing really that can be done."
And taking this small step will keep you from seeing more rare events in the future.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and making sure that you put them on before we even look, make sure that we turn away before we take them off just to have proper protection. You know it would be sad to come out of this with a loss of vision. I know we all want to see it, but we need to be protected too," said Unterbrink.
If you are still in need of eye protection for the eclipse, The Eye Site of Lima still has glasses available. For more tips on safety and preparation, you can watch the Allen County Eclipse Panel on our website.
