Protecting your sight

It is very dangerous looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse. The UK Government's chief medical officer Professor Liam Donaldson advised people not to look directly at the Sun at any time, even during totality, when many people say it can be viewed safely. Professor Donaldson said the eclipse would be best viewed on television. The symptoms of eye damage can take up to 48 hours to fully appear, so the effect of the eclipse on the nation's sight will not be known for some time.

It is safe to use a welding mask to look at the sun, because it protects the eyes.

Other people used special glasses to view the eclipse.

At Queen's Medical Centre, clinical nurse specialist Ian Smith said: "Almost straight away after the eclipse we started getting calls from people who were worried about having looked at the Sun. "Some of those people have been advised to come in, but it is a little early to tell how many people will have damaged their sight." During a partial eclipse in Manchester twenty years ago, more than 20 people suffered lasting sight damage.