On April 5, Blue Cluster students were treated to a special presentation on eclipse eye safety by Dr. Debra Kroll, an oculoplastic surgeon and the parent of Sam in the Blue Cluster. Dr. Kroll maintains a private practice on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, specializing in Oculoplastic Surgery. She is a Board-Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).
Dr. Kroll began her presentation by reinforcing to the students that she was not trying to make them anxious with the information she was presenting, but that “knowledge is power,” and that she hoped they would leave the presentation with what they needed to know to experience the solar eclipse safely. On April 8, New York City will experience a partial solar eclipse beginning around 2:10 pm, and peaking at around 3:25 pm at about 90% totality. The eclipse is expected to end in the city at around 4:36 pm.
In her presentation, Dr. Kroll walked the students through what an eclipse is, and what New York City should experience on April 8. She then explained more about the anatomy of the eye, and how exactly viewing the eclipse without appropriate eye protection could permanently damage your vision. She then provided information on how to experience the solar eclipse safely, and showed the students why it was so important to use proper eye protection and not sunglasses if they are going to view the eclipse.
Her advice for experiencing the eclipse safely included:
- If you are going to look at the eclipse, please use certified eclipse glasses at all times.
- It is not possible to walk safely while wearing eclipse glasses, so be sure to find a safe place to stand while viewing the eclipse.
- If you are walking, do not look up at the sun at all. Consider wearing a hat to remind yourself not to look at the sun while outdoors without eclipse glasses.
- Stay inside, if possible.
The school will be distributing a pair of ISO 12312-2 & CE certified viewing glasses to each student prior to dismissal on Monday.
For more information about the eclipse, here are some helpful resources:
Eclipse Eye Safety (NASA)
2024 Total Solar Eclipse (NY Times)
Viewing the Total Solar Eclipse in NYC (ilovetheupperwestside.com)