Solar Eclipse Eye Safety FAQs
Can I watch the 2026 solar eclipse through normal sunglasses?
No. Normal sunglasses are not designed to protect your eyes when looking directly at the Sun, regardless of how dark the lenses are. If you want to view the eclipse directly, use genuine solar viewing glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standard.
Can I take a photo of the 2026 solar eclipse with my phone?
You should avoid looking directly at the Sun while lining up your photograph. The Sun can also potentially damage camera equipment when it is pointed directly at it for prolonged periods. For dedicated cameras, binoculars or telescopes, appropriate solar filters are essential. If you’re unsure whether your equipment is suitable for solar viewing, it is safer not to use it.
What happens if I accidentally look at the solar eclipse?
A brief accidental glance doesn’t automatically mean that your eyes have been damaged, but staring directly at the Sun can injure the retina. This is sometimes called solar retinopathy.
The damage may not be painful at the time, and symptoms can sometimes appear afterwards. If you notice blurred or distorted vision, unusual sensitivity to light, changes in colour vision or a dark area in the centre of your sight after viewing the eclipse, you should seek advice from an eye-care professional.
Is it safe to watch the 2026 solar eclipse through a camera, telescope or binoculars?
Not without the correct equipment. Cameras, telescopes and binoculars can concentrate the Sun’s rays, potentially causing serious eye damage. A suitable solar filter needs to be correctly fitted to the front of the device.
Solar viewing glasses alone should not be used to look through binoculars or a telescope.
What’s the safest way for children to watch the solar eclipse?
Children should always be supervised when viewing an eclipse. Make sure they understand that they must never look directly at the Sun without appropriate solar viewing protection.
Indirect methods, such as making a simple pinhole projector, can be a particularly good option for families because children can watch the eclipse without needing to look towards the Sun at all.
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