Scare mongering by the Opthalmologist association again

[erick (Eric)]

Last time I used my IIS glasses, I saw a black spot in front of my eyes! .....wait a minute, that was Venus on the Sun.

We'll be using ours and I'll have a number in my back pocket for anyone nearby who asks to borrow a pair. Perhaps I should ask them to sign a disclaimer first and have it witnessed by a magistrate?

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by erick

Perhaps I should ask them to sign a disclaimer first and have it witnessed by a magistrate?

That's overkill. A Justice of the Peace will do!

More seriously, though, I'm thinking of not letting anyone else look through my scope now. Even a tiny risk of litigation (based on this hysteria) is enough to put me off.

[Colin_Fraser]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Guys,
I'm involved in safe solar observing.
We have been investigating the ACTUAL incidents of accidental loss of eyesight while using solar glasses and/or telescopes and solar filters (white light and Ha etc)
The investigations have been going on for over the last year or so, involved opthalmatists (checking their text books and references etc) and amateur astronomers all around the world.
We have found NO evidence of "hundreds of Indian children blinded by looking at the recent solar eclipses" infact we have been unable to find even ONE documented case of significant loss of sight due to either glasses or accidental solar observing. Not ONE!
I'm not saying it's impossible, but based on the evidence to date I'd have to say very, very improbable.
If anyone wants to share/ obtain this data please feel free to refer others to me - either a PM or by email
kenm(dot)harrison(at)gmail(dot)com.

I don't know whether they are safe either. Not qualified enough. The referenced Courier article had this to say

UK research done after the 1999 solar eclipse in southwest England found in people who suffered eye damage in that event, 14 per cent of retinal burns were from using solar filter spectacles.

Instead, people could use a home-made pinhole observatory to view the eclipse.

The CSIRO has also said it does not endorse the use of solar glasses.

I guess it's a matter of choice of who to take notice of. The medical experts & the CSIRO or a company that manufactures the glasses for profit and also whether one considers the risk is worth taking.

[doppler (Rick)]

If there was a problem with any available solar filters I am sure Nasa and all the big international observatories would let us know, they look at the sun all the time.

[astronut (John)]

Even the CSIRO chimed in...and said they didn't recommend the glasses.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Colin, et al,
if you can find a link to these "research reports" I'd love to see them....
Also like to see a CSIRO official report....

[Shano592 (Shane)]

Yeah, I wouldn't be refunding for a change of mind. The opthalmologists are self-interested, and as Ken (Merlin66) says, where is the empirical proof?

If the schools choose to believe scaremongering, then woe unto them!

[WadeH (Wade)]

Its interesting that the news articles do not state the actual number of retinal inuries from the 1999 UK study. e.g. 14% of what? If the actual number of injuries is in the area of, say, 6 people out of the many thousands that watch these events then this would normaly be classified as a acceptable though unfortunate figure.

As they always tought us in school statistics can be made to say anything you want them to.

BTW, I or my friends and family have no problem after many wears and viewings through solar filters both glass and/or film and will continue to use.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

I wonder if any of the scare mongers drive cars? Dangerous things they are.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Wade,
We had similiar comments about "blind kids in India'...We were unable to find ANY documented evidence in the US, UK or even in India!!!
If you do find any scientific, documented evidence of accidental solar eye damage, I'd love to hear about it.

[Colin_Fraser]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Colin, et al,
if you can find a link to these "research reports" I'd love to see them....
Also like to see a CSIRO official report....

I said in my previous post I am not qualified to determine the safety aspect. I see no need for me to research it.
I am unable to see the eclipse from my location. However, if I could, I would probably err on the side of caution.
That's just my choice. People can make their own mind up.

[MortonH]

Originally Posted by astronut

Even the CSIRO chimed in...and said they didn't recommend the glasses.

I think this may have been misquoted to back up the scaremongering. You know how easy it is to twist things:


Check this out at the CSIRO Parkes website!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://parkesdishshop.com/eclipse-glasses.html

Direct quote:

"These cardboard Eclipse glasses are safe for direct solar viewing of solar eclipses, sun spots and other solar phenomenon."

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I have written to the Society and requested a copy of the report mentioned by Dr. Rowan Porter.........

[Colin_Fraser]

I read the article again and followed the link to the Australian Society of Opthalmologists and read the article regarding the eclipse.
I could not find any reference to them stating what the Courier has quoted.

The Courier printed "Australian Society of Opthalmologists say people risk eye damage looking at solar eclipse even with approved solar glasses"

Thats not what they said.
What they say is "There are risks associated with all forms of direct viewing; solar filters, unprotected viewing or viewing through optical instruments.

If there were no risks, warnings would not come with the glasses.

I am beginning to think it is the media who are doing the scaremongering.

EDIT: Just read the post by MortonH about the CSIRO. Seems the Courier are printing untruths. That ought to confirm who the scaremongers are.

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

I'm sending my daughter to school with our IIS glasses.
I'll give her a letter from me just in case.
She'd be very upset if she couldn't use them.

"Protecting us from ourselves"

What a joke!

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

I have written to the Society and requested a copy of the report mentioned by Dr. Rowan Porter.........

Did you mean "Dowler, J. (1999), Staying safe during the eclipse, British Medical Journal"?
Someone probably has a BMJ subscription.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1126971/

This seems to be the article mentioned.
If you follow the various reference links there's some interesting observations....no permanently blinded people....

[Rob P]

Interesting link to the BMJ article.

The last sentence in paragraph 3 implies that the filters themselves are safe, unless there are any defects, but as one size does not fit all, there is 'leakage' which may cause damage to the eyes.

"However, concerns have been expressed about such viewers because a single size viewer is unlikely to fit all children’s faces accurately, because surface damage may compromise any protective effect, and because the importance of physical defects in the aluminium film remains uncertain."

Certainly agree with previous posts that accurate reporting would help, but 'Sun causes blindness' is a sexier headline than 'You can look at the Sun with the right equipment for short periods of time'.

[Colin_Fraser]

The observations ".....are no permanently blinded people..." is certainly good.
However "in others, there is permanent loss of photoreceptors." and
"Children are commonly affected, there is no treatment, and permanent visual loss may result" is still worrying.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I agree. the "....may result" comment is interesting. But this statement doesn't seem to be backed by the evidence submitted.
There are recorded incidents of temporary effects which disappear within the following days/ weeks.