Caribbean population warned ahead of eclipse of sun

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Aug 21 2017 – Caribbean people are being warned to take preventative measures to avoid blindness as they are set to witness a rare partial eclipse later Monday as the moon passes between the sun and the earth.

“Looking at it is not worth it. Prevention is better than cure,” warned Dr. Patrick Martin, the former chief medical officer in St. Kitts-Nevis.

“Protect your eyesight. Protect your child’s eyesight. Never stare at the sun; not even for a second. A partial eclipse of the sun starts around 2:20 p.m. on Monday. It will last for 2.5 hours. Do not look directly at the sun, or at it through sunglasses of any kind, colour film, x-ray film, a camera, binoculars or telescope,” he said.

Dr. Martin also warned that sun radiation causes temporary or permanent injury ranging from blurred vision to cataracts to dark spots in the retina.

“A solar eclipse may be viewed only through approved lens stamped ISO 12312-2,” he said.

The Caribbean Institute of Astronomy (CARINA) said the Eastern Caribbean countries will experience the eclipse from 2:20 p.m. (local time) through 4:50 p.m., while in Jamaica, it will be observed from the 12:51 (local time) and lasting for two hours and 43 minutes.

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