Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard all about the solar eclipse that will take place on Monday, August 21.
Photo Credit: Facebook, Solar Eclipse
People across the country are losing their minds, prepping and publicly debating about what location will be best to see the monumental event from (I’ve heard Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, etc.).
Photo Credit: Facebook, Solar Eclipse
But here’s a cautionary tale you should definitely pay attention to from a man named Lou Tomososki, a 62-year-old who had a terrible eclipse experience back in 1962.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Tomososki was a teenager on that day in ’62 when his science teacher told the class about a solar eclipse that was taking place that day. Excited about the potential of seeing this once-in-a-lifetime event, Tomososki watched the moon pass in front of the sun with no eye protection. But as he walked home, he realized that his vision was blurry in the eye he looked at the eclipse with.
Photo Credit: Flickr, Takeshi Kuboki
The blurriness did not go away, and Tomososki was left with a blank spot the size of a pea on his left eye from viewing the eclipse for 20 seconds. He said, “The damage was done right then and there. The longer you look at it, the more damage is done.” Tomososki is taking this opportunity to warn against the dangers of viewing the upcoming eclipse directly. “Why would you take a chance with your eyes?” he said.
Photo Credit: Twitter,republicbuzz
So remember folks, if you’re going to gaze at the sky on August 21, you should absolutely buy or borrow a pair of solar eclipse glasses to protect your peepers.
Photo Credit: Facebook,Eyeballs
That is the only safe way to look directly at the eclipse.
You can of course also make a pinhole camera, or an eclipse viewer, the way people have done for hundreds of years – but you should never, ever look directly at it.
At least, not if you like being able to see.
h/t: AOL
