Sufficient Eye Protection for the 2017 American Eclipse

Abstract

On August 21, 2017 the skies will host America to an exclusive command performance commonly referred to as “The Great American Eclipse.” In the astronomy world our country has won the lottery and has been given the astronomical equivalent privilege of hosting the World Cup, Olympics, and the Super Bowl all within a 94 minute window. The author has previously published a paper entitled “2017 Solar Eclipse-Prevention of Solar Retinopathy or “Eclipse Blindness”” in a VRC newsletter on January 2017. Many people have responded to the article inquiring about what is considered “safe” when purchasing “Eclipse Glasses.” Choosing the wrong eye protection could lead to permanent damage to the retina. There are many on the market that claim to be safe, however there are some that are not safe and could lead to eye damage despite the manufacturer’s claims. There are distinguishing markings or certifications that manufacturers will put on their glasses or advertise with their glasses. Some of these include ISO 12312-2, CE, and ANSI Z87. Most people do not know what these markings mean and how they apply to solar eye protection. This research has collected data on twenty six different pairs of glasses from a wide variety of manufacturers. The author will publish a tri-fold brochure which will summarize the data and explain what some of these markings are to help the general population choose the safest eye protection to use for viewing an eclipse. This thesis will further explore the findings and explain how the data was processed and interpreted.