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Parents should not allow children to directly observe solar eclipse, says ophthalmologist
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Rare natural phenomenon – An expert has warned against directly viewing the solar eclipse, which will sweep across Indonesia on Wednesday, as doing so may cause eye damage.
(Tempo/-)
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n ophthalmologist has said parents should not allow their children to observe a solar eclipse directly as doing so may result in a condition called solar eclipse retinopathy.
“Children are more prone to eye conditions than adults,” M. Bayu Sasongko, an ophthalmologist with Dr.Yap Eye Hospital in Yogyakarta, told journalists on Monday.
As reported earlier, a total solar eclipse will be visible in several provinces across Indonesia on Wednesday. The natural phenomenon has attracted tourists from around the world.
“Parents must warn their children not to observe the solar eclipse directly,” Bayu said.
He further said people should be aware that the sunlight appearing slowly after the peak of the eclipse contained harmful UV rays.
Bayu said eye damage caused by a solar eclipse would occur in the macula, which provided central vision. Among symptoms of the eye damage included the appearance of black circles called scotoma in a person’s vision and blurry vision.
“In some people, these symptoms can stay up to one month before their vision slowly improves. But in some other people, this condition can stay for years,” he added.
The ophthalmologist further said many scientific research reports gave evidence that witnessing a solar eclipse in an unsafe manner might lead to eye damage.
Citing a scientific report, 15 people directly witnessing a solar eclipse in Sussex, the UK, several years ago, suffered from solar eclipse retinopathy.
“As suggested by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Australian Society of Ophthalmologist, the safest way to view a solar eclipse is through the television or using special equipment, which can project the process of the solar eclipse from telescopes to a screen, in planetariums,” he said, adding it was not safe for people to view a solar eclipse using sunglasses or through water bowls as they were not effective in protecting eyes from UV radiation.
In Yogyakarta, people can witness the solar eclipse at an event held by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the provincial administration-owned Taman Pintar (Smart Park) science and education facility in the Tugu Monument area.
The Jogja Astro Club (JAC) is holding a solar eclipse observation event in the courtyard of the Kauman Grand Mosque, Yogyakarta.
“We have prepared four telescopes and 100 filters people can jointly use to view the eclipse,” said Danang Dwi Saputra of the JAC.
The BMKG said the solar eclipse would be visible in 45 cities in 12 provinces across Indonesia. In Yogyakarta, the eclipse will be visible from 6:20 a.m. until 8:35 a.m. local time. Yogyakarta will see an 85 percent eclipse, it further said. (ebf)
