MARIETTA, Ga. — Watching a solar eclipse is a rare event in the United States, and many people across the country are just hours away from seeing the moon block out the sun.
But looking up at the sky during this time, even for a few seconds, can cause a lifetime of damage.
“The sun can actually burn the retina, the tissue in the back part of the eye. It's something known as solar retinopathy or eclipse blindness," said Dr. Lauren Dyak of the Woolfson Eye Institute.
Dr. Dyak said people often don’t understand the dangers of looking at eclipses without proper eye gear.
“Concerning symptoms would be changes to vision, such as loss of central vision, distorted vision, and changes to color vision," Dyak added.
Dyak said it could take several days for symptoms to appear after viewing the eclipse unprotected.
She suggests using eclipse glasses with an ISO certification.
The glasses can be purchased online or at many stores for less than $5.00.
If you notice your eyes are damaged, Dyak recommends seeing an eye doctor as soon as possible, as some damage can be irreversible.
The solar eclipse is expected to start Monday at 1:45 p.m. in metro Atlanta.