Hundreds of thousands of eyeballs will be on the sky April 8th 2024 for the total solar eclipse.

Erie Pennsylvania will be in the path of totality, making the city a prime viewing location. Dr. David Almeida of Erie Retina Research tells us that any direct viewing of the eclipse should be done with the correct use of approved solar eclipse glasses.

According to Dr. Almeida, only about 70% of people watching had the proper eyewear during the last total eclipse.

"As the sun moves out of the area, that's when you are going to get affected," said Dr. Almeida. "Those light rays have so much UV light in them you can get what's called solar retinopathy, which is a burn in the center of your vision. It will leave you with a permanent blind spot."

It's important that you only view the eclipse through approved eyewear. Your phone or camera lens will not provide proper protection.

"Unless you have a professional camera that has the filter to properly block that... you will end up with a serious blind spot in your vision."

Pediatric Ophthalmology of Erie's Dr. Nicholas Sala tells us the eyewear should display the correct safety certification. This indicates that the glasses meet an international safety standard known as ISO 12312-2.

Purchasing glasses from reputable vendors ensures they are not counterfeits. Some retailers include AAA eclipse and visisolar.com.