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Partial solar eclipse: protecting children’s eyes well
On Friday March 20, the moon will play a nice trick on us since a partial solar eclipse will be visible from mainland France. In practice, this rare phenomenon will occur between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. approximately. While it is extremely tempting to admire this spectacle, it is essential to protect your eyes and especially those of children.
What are the potential risks to the eyes?
Directly observing the eclipse can cause irreparable damage to the eyes. According to the Directorate General of Health, the lesions can be of two types:
- Corneal damage inflammatory, ” painful but reversible in a few days “.
- Retinal damage “Such as retinal burns linked to the thermal effect of solar radiation and a photochemical effect on particularly fragile retinal cells. These lesions can permanently impair eyesight ».
And for children, the risk is even greater. Catherine Jégat from the National Association for the Improvement of Sight (Asnav) explains that “ the eye of toddlers is transparent until the age of 10-12 years, so the rays directly hit the retina. Therefore, it is essential to protect them well.
How to protect the eyes?
Classic sunglasses are not at all suitable for this kind of phenomenon. It is necessary to bring special glasses, totally opaque, designed to look directly at the sun. These protective glasses must comply with CE standards n ° 89/686. Catherine Jégat specifies that “it is advisable to check their condition well. Indeed, the slightest scratch would let the sun’s rays pass through. »Where to find them? At the Maison de l’Astronomie in Paris, at a price of 3 euros per pair (decreasing price), but also at certain Optic 2000, Lissac, Opticiens Mutualistes… and in certain pharmacies.
In addition, Catherine Jégat advises against recycling the glasses purchased during the total eclipse of 1999, because they are disposable.
We also forget, x-rays, photo films… which do not block all the rays. The only D-system possible: welding goggles, if you have some…
What about the children who will be in school?
If it is the parents who must ensure the protection of the eyes of their children, it will be very difficult to do so for all those who will be in class that day. In this case, neither the Ministry of National Education, nor the Ministry of Health have planned to distribute glasses in schools. It is therefore up to the establishments to take all the necessary measures so that the schoolchildren do not observe, without special glasses, the solar eclipse. According to Catherine Jégat, it would be best if the children did not go out for recess for the duration of the eclipse. She also recommends not telling them not to look, because otherwise, they will necessarily want to see her.
To find out everything about the eclipse, the Retina France association offers an eclipse observation table by department. |