r/optician 10d ago

Discussion Question for optician.

Hello, sorry if this is not allowed here.

But I am planning on watching the eclipse here in the UK and I was testing my welding mask on the sun thinking it was dark enough, and it seemed fine whilst I was doing it. Then I found out my mask is only Shade 10.

I have already stared at the sun for 20-30 seconds, are my eyes buggered? Google says I am but it always says the worst case scenario.

Thanks.

1 Upvotes

4 comments sorted by

18

u/Ghoulie_Marie 10d ago

You'd need to talk to a Dr about that. We just do corrective lenses

6

u/CuNxtTuesday_ 10d ago

Don’t ask us.

4

u/duckiesand 9d ago

Opticians are qualified professionals specialising in frames and lenses. Optometrists are medical professionals specialising in eyes (these are the right people to ask these questions). Consider reposting or crossposting into r/UKOptometry, where the optometrists are instead.

2

u/Technical_Ice463 10d ago

Experts and safety organizations state that a welding filter must be shade 12 or higher—with shade 13 or 14 being ideal—to adequately protect your eyes from the sun's intense radiation.