A local shopkeeper noticed eclipse glasses flying off the shelves and said, “You won’t see them again in this area for years.”
Local officials and doctors are preaching safety ahead of Monday’s long-awaited total solar eclipse.
Dr. Rachel Amaral, an optometrist at Town Eye Care in downtown Orillia, said there are no specific viewing times that people need to adhere to as long as they are equipped with regular eclipse glasses. states.
But viewing the eclipse without glasses is “very dangerous” and can cause two major eye complications.
“Solar keratopathy is similar to the damage caused by a welding arc,” she explained. “Exposure to ultraviolet light damages the cells on the surface of the cornea, exposing the underlying nerves and causing severe pain and photosensitivity.”
Solar keratopathy can be cured, but may require treatment with antibiotics to prevent secondary infection, or a bandage around the contact lens to ease the pain associated with healing.
Viewing a solar eclipse without protection can also cause solar retinopathy, Amaral said.
“This happens when UV exposure damages the retina at the back of the eye,” she says. “Although it is not painful, it can cause mild to moderate vision loss, blind spots in central vision, distorted/wavy vision, and color changes. All of these effects are permanent and untreatable, so of greatest concern” in conjunction with the upcoming solar eclipse. ”
Amaral says there are several factors to consider when it comes to eclipse glasses to make sure people have proper eye protection to view the eclipse.
“While you’re looking through the light, you shouldn’t be able to see any light other than the sun,” she said. “This means regular sunglasses (polarized or non-polarized) are not safe to use.”
If the lenses of your glasses are scratched or damaged, they are not safe to use, she says.
“There are many counterfeit glasses being sold by unauthorized vendors, increasing the risk of permanent vision loss,” she says.
The Ontario Association of Optometrists has an approved list of safe vendors. here.
Orillia’s Home Hardware has been selling eclipse glasses for several months. Co-owner Bill Eklund said they’re flying off the shelves.
“We started a little slow,” he said. “Once more people started talking about the eclipse, it started selling faster.”
Home Hardware had to source glass from numerous manufacturers.
“We get a few hundred, and they’re gone within the day,” Eklund said. “A lot of people come and ask about it.”
Home Hardware was restocked with 200 pairs of glasses on Thursday afternoon, with another 300 scheduled to arrive on Friday.
“That’s it,” Eklund said. “Once this order is completed, it will probably be gone.”
He says Ontario is on the path to completeness, causing outbreaks among local residents.
“We’re not going to see anything like this happen in our area for the next few years,” he says. “I myself am visiting my brother’s house outside of Stoney Creek and trying to take some photos.”
He promises that the glasses sold by Home Hardware have “very powerful” filters and are “genuine.”
“When you put this on and look at it in normal light, you can’t really see anything,” he said.
Orillia Deputy Fire Chief Chris Ferry said it will be “business as usual” for first responders who must be outdoors during the eclipse.
“We have told all staff not to look at the eclipse with the naked eye,” he said. “If they answer the phone, they know not to look directly at the eclipse.”
OPP central region media relations coordinator Brooklyn Harker said police do not expect day-to-day operations to be affected by the eclipse.
“OPP is not increasing staffing,” she said. “If additional resources are needed, OPP is always ready to mobilize resources.”
She said OPP is encouraging residents and visitors to make road safety their “number one priority” when planning or traveling to an eclipse event.
“Historically, solar eclipses have prompted large-scale movements of people to prime viewing areas,” she says. “We would like to remind the public to share the roads and avoid wearing eclipse glasses while driving.”
Harker says commuters should make sure their car headlights are on during the eclipse and should not record photos or videos of the eclipse while driving.
“Do not pull over or stop on the road or shoulder to view the eclipse,” she said. “To view the eclipse, park in a safe location away from traffic.”
Ahead of the eclipse, Dr Harker is reminding people not to drive while impaired.
“At events like this, people tend to go out and drink alcohol to celebrate,” she says. “That’s something we always work very hard on.”