In Fresno, the eclipse coverage will reach a maximum of 40.7% at approximately 11:15:01 a.m. on Monday. Protect your eyes with the tips in this story from Dr. Premilla Banwait. (Shutterstock)
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/16173534/highlights-banner-blue-300x94-1.png)
- Solar eclipse is a fun and educational opportunity for everyone.
- Avoid fakes by using only certified solar eclipse glasses.
- Eye pain or vision problems following the eclipse? Visit a local eye care professional.
Share
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
For people in Fresno and hundreds of millions more nationwide, the upcoming solar eclipse offers a great opportunity to view a rare celestial event.
Dr. Premilla Banwait
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks any part of the sun. On Monday, virtually everyone across the country will have the chance (weather permitting) to see at least a partial solar eclipse, while over 31 million people in a narrow path from Texas to Maine will have the opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse.
In Fresno, the eclipse coverage will reach a maximum of 40.7% at approximately 11:15:01 a.m.
Related Story: Online Viewing of Monday’s Total Solar Eclipse: How to Watch from
Steps to Protect Your Eyes
While the solar eclipse is a fun and educational opportunity for everyone, there are precautions you should take to help maintain your eye health while safely viewing this spectacle. Looking at a solar eclipse without proper protection may cause serious eye damage, including blurry vision that can last months, or even permanent problems such as “eclipse blindness.”
To help avoid that, here are five tips from Prevent Blindness to help safely view the solar eclipse:
Get Protected
It is unsafe to look directly at the sun at any time and during a partial or total solar eclipse, other than if you are in the path of totality during the brief total phase. Proper eclipse viewing glasses, which are heavily tinted — much more so than regular sunglasses — can enable you to see the moon track across the orb of the sun until it creates a total eclipse, revealing the sun’s corona.
Avoid Fakes
Use certified solar eclipse glasses, specifically ones that have been reviewed by the International Organization for Standardization, and look out for fake viewers that may be sold. A list of vendors that sell certified solar eclipse glasses is available here. And make sure to read and follow any instructions packaged with or printed on the glasses.
Don’t Add Other Devices
Even while wearing approved solar eclipse glasses, it’s important not to look at the sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device. Doing so may concentrate the solar rays and damage the filter, enter your eyes, and potentially cause serious injury.
Related Story: These Fresno Eclipse Chasers Are Hoping For 4 Minutes of Darkened Bliss in
Use Caution During the Moment of Totality
If you are planning to watch the eclipse from along the 13-state path of totality, eclipse glasses should be worn during the entirety of the partial eclipse phase and may only be removed once the moon completely blocks the sun. Once the sun reappears, glasses should be replaced.
Consider a Comprehensive Eye Exam
If you or a loved one experience eye discomfort or vision problems following the solar eclipse, visit a local eye care professional for a comprehensive exam. Importantly, comprehensive eye exams may also identify vision problems while helping with the potential detection of other health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer.
The upcoming solar eclipse can be a fun and educational opportunity — provided you take the necessary precautions to protect your eye health.
About the Author
Dr. Premilla Banwait is the vice president of Clinical Programs at UnitedHealthcare.
RELATED TOPICS:
Bettors Banking on Eagles Resurgence, Cowboys Regression as NFL Season Begins
12 hours ago
Abandoned Poodle Mix Adam Survives the Wild and Seeks a Forever Home
13 hours ago
Top Brazilian Judge Orders Suspension of X Platform in Brazil Amid Feud With Musk
1 day ago
How a Real Estate Boom Drove Political Corruption in Los Angeles
1 day ago
Palestinian TikTok Star Who Shared Details of Gaza Life Under Siege Is Killed by Israeli Airstrike
1 day ago
49ers Rookie WR Ricky Pearsall Shot in Attempted Union Square Robbery
20 mins ago
Categories
![Police officers secure the area and investigate the scene of a shooting at Union Square in San Francisco, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/31184052/piersall-shooting-1024x683.jpg)
49ers Rookie WR Ricky Pearsall Shot in Attempted Union Square Robbery
![Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at an event in anticipation of signing a bill on his proposed oil profit penalty plan in Sacramento on March 28, 2023. (CalMatters/ Miguel Gutierrez Jr.)](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/31175839/newsom-big-oil.webp)
Will Gov. Newsom Call a Special Session to Deal With Gas Prices?
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/16183042/Eagles-vs-49ers.jpg)
Bettors Banking on Eagles Resurgence, Cowboys Regression as NFL Season Begins
![A black poodle's face with his tongue sticking out](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/29135336/Rescued-from-an-abandoned-home-after-weeks-of-fending-for-himself-Adam-a-shy-but-sweet-poodle-mix-is-now-seeking-a-loving-forever-home.-Mells-Mutts-1024x538.jpg)
Abandoned Poodle Mix Adam Survives the Wild and Seeks a Forever Home
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28091346/082824-Lede-1024x576.jpg)