QVH eye expert issues eclipse safety warning

With a solar eclipse set to be visible across the UK this evening, a leading eye expert from Queen Victoria Hospital is reminding people to take care when viewing it.

Queen Victoria Hospital is home to one of the UK’s leading specialist eye units and eye banks, providing complex corneal and oculoplastic services and supports patients from across the UK.

Mohamed Elalfy, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH) and President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, along with the team at QVH, is urging people not to look directly at the sun and to make sure they use appropriate eye protection if they plan to watch the eclipse.

Mohamed said: “The safest way to enjoy the eclipse is to observe it indirectly, such as by watching a live broadcast. Looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse can cause damage to the retina, potentially damaging the cells responsible for sharp central vision. Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it happens.

“Symptoms may only become apparent several hours later and can include blurred vision, a central blind or dark spot, distorted vision, reduced colour perception and increased sensitivity to light. While some people recover over weeks or months, others can be left with permanent visual impairment.”

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists warns that ordinary sunglasses do not provide enough protection for viewing an eclipse. Anyone planning to watch should use certified eclipse glasses or other approved solar-viewing equipment. Safe alternatives include watching a live broadcast or using indirect viewing methods such as pinhole projection.

Anyone who experiences changes to their vision after looking at the sun should seek advice from an eye care professional.

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