Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is urging residents to follow safety steps in order to protect their eyes from the solar eclipse set to take place on April 8.
On that day between 2 p.m. and 4:33 p.m., parts of Hastings and Prince Edward counties will be in the path of totality of the solar eclipse.
Areas in the path of totality will experience complete darkness during the total eclipse, starting at approximately 3:20 p.m. and lasting less than a few minutes.
Residents are being reminded that viewing the sun with the naked eye can cause temporary or permanent vision impairment, including blindness.
Regular sunglasses do not protect your eyes during the eclipse.
“It is not safe to look at the sun without approved eye protection,” says Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Medical Officer of Health for HPEPH in a media release.
“Looking at even a small sliver before or after the eclipse without proper eye protection can be harmful to your vision. Symptoms may not show for 12 to 48 hours and could involve retinal burns, blurred vision, and temporary or permanent vision loss. Unfortunately, once symptoms start, it is usually too late to reverse damage, so prevention and protection of your eyes is critical.”
The health unit says glasses with specialized filters that adhere to the ISO 12312-2 international standard can be worn to prevent eye damage.
More on the eclipse from the health unit can be found at their website.
