ST. LOUIS — We’re all gearing up for the celestial spectacle of a solar eclipse.
“I'm very excited about it. Can't wait for it," said David White, who is visiting St. Louis from Chicago.
But amid the excitement, there are crucial safety precautions to consider, especially when it comes to protecting your eyes and your children's eyes from the Sun's intense rays.
Tomorrow morning White will be driving roughly two hours to Carbondale, Illinois. It’s on the center-line of the path of totality.
“All the hotel rooms were full in Carbondale, so we had to stay here," he said.
5 On Your Side checked with him about what’s arguably the most important thing in his suitcase.
“Do you have your eclipse glasses?" asked the I-Team's Paula Vasan.
“Yeah, I do, I got five of them for me and my family," White said.
Some aren't as lucky. Multiple viewers told the I-Team they were fooled by third-party suppliers selling knockoffs. So we've consulted with leading experts to make sure you know what to look for.
First off, make sure your glasses have this safety code on them: ISO 12312-2. It’s an international filter standard to look directly at the Sun. But Dr. Susanna Kohler with the American Astronomical Society tells the I-Team that anyone can put that code on their glasses. So make sure your glasses are from the organization’s list of approved suppliers and retailers.
If you still need glasses, Kohler advises you try finding them at one of the chain retailers on the American Astronomical Society's approved list, like Lowes and Walmart -- that’s if they’re still in stock.
And what about our little ones? Experts from the American Astronomical Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics said you should ensure children's glasses fit properly and cover their eyes entirely.
The American Astronomical Society's Kohler told us: "This is going to be a parental judgment call. As long as you’re observing the Sun through a safe solar viewer, then it’s safe for any eyes — children and adult alike. But if a child’s eyes aren’t fully covered by eclipse glasses because the glasses are too large, or if the child is too young to understand and might remove the glasses while looking at the Sun, then there’s risk that they could damage their eyes by viewing the Sun directly without eye protection. "
For added safety, indirect viewing methods such as pinhole projection are recommended.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s spokesperson Vered Hazanchuk echoed the advice from the American Astronomical Society, referencing these tips on solar eclipse safety and ensuring the safety of your glasses.
We also reached out to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Spokesperson Lisa Black Robinson referenced this resource, which highlights the importance of wearing eclipse glasses with certified solar filters, making a pinhole viewer to watch the eclipse indirectly, and viewing a livestream of the eclipse.
White and others told the I-Team the hassle is well worth it. White saw the last eclipse back in 2017.
“Can't wait to see it again. Anytime there's any eclipse in the United States, I'm there," he said.
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