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Nicholas Gueguen | Aug 13, 2017

Vanderbilt University Eye Institute says to keep eyes protected during solar eclipse

The Vanderbilt University Eye Institute is urging people to take steps to preserve the health of their eyes during the Aug. 21 solar eclipse.

The solar eclipse will be the first in almost 100 years that will take place across the country, a Vanderbilt release said.

The total solar eclipse will make 14 states completely dark for a matter of minutes, while other states that are not in the total solar eclipse's area will experience a partial solar eclipse. NASA predicts that almost 325 million Americans will see some part or all of the eclipse.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Nathan Podoll urged people to preserve their eye health during the eclipse. 

He told Vanderbilt University's Jessica Pasley that people must use the right glasses, which are glasses that have black polymer lenses. Such glasses are allowed to be used over people's prescribed glasses, the release said. 

Podoll also told Pasley that people need to throw away the lenses if light can get through holes in the lenses or if the lenses are scratched. Podoll also told Pasley that shade No. 14 welding glasses can be worn to see the eclipse.

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